AUSTIN, TX – September 10, 2018 – The Austin Young Chamber Foundation has awarded two grants to Austin area non-profit organizations.

PelotonU and Austin Partners in Education were both recipients of $1000 grants to support their important work in the Austin community. Each also received a Corporate Membership to the Austin Young Chamber and will both be represented at the Annual Nonprofit Fair put on by the Young Chamber’s Leadership Service Committee on September 18th.

The Austin Young Chamber Foundation is a fund of the Austin Young Chamber and provides an opportunity for Austin Young Chamber members to give back and help ensure that everyone in our community has the opportunity to thrive. Through a collective impact funding model, the Foundation provides grants to 501(c)3 non-profit organizations with initiatives that:

• Focus on removing barriers to employment
• Impact individuals in the early workforce stage (0-5 years)
• Increase employability of underserved populations

“We know that before young adults can even begin to think about professional development opportunities like the Austin Young Chamber provides, they have to have secure jobs and have clear paths to success,” Austin Young Chamber Foundation Chair, Julie Smith said. “We want this to be a reality for everyone in our region and we’re excited to bring the Young Chamber community together to support organizations and programs working toward this end,” Smith said.

Prior to awarding the two grants, the Austin Young Chamber Foundation helped fund the first ever professional development conference for young professionals in Austin. The LEAD Summit, held February 16 2018, brought together nearly 300 young professionals for a day of Learning, Engagement, Action and Development.

The Austin Young Chamber Foundation also supported the 2018 Central Texas Signing Day event at Concordia University Texas in May where over 1200 seniors from Central Texas area high schools were celebrated for their making a commitment to attend college.

PelotonU’s mission is to provide working adults a pathway and support to graduate from college. There are 250,000 people in Austin who have started college and haven’t graduated.

The mission of Austin Partners in Education is to improve student college and career readiness and expand STEM opportunities through community engagement. The College Readiness program provides academic support to Austin ISD students, particularly at-risk, minority, low-income, first-generation students.

The Austin Young Chamber Foundation will be awarding at least two more grants in 2018 and will continue to support non-profit organizations in the Austin area with financial support, volunteers, Young Chamber memberships, and promotion.

The Austin Young Chamber Foundation is a fund of the Austin Young Chamber. The Young Chamber connects and empowers Austin’s young professionals to create business and community success. The Young Chamber wants Austin to have the most talented, prepared, and community-focused workforce in the country.