Education Foundation

Shaler Area School District began working with U can B in 2017 for a series of information technology, job readiness and career awareness classes. This program for middle school students was made possible by a grant from The Education Foundation.   Students met with a U can B instructor every Monday to discuss topics such as technology, career assessment, understanding the job market, careers in IT and more! Additionally, UcanB will attend the STEM OPEN HOUSE for High School students in February 2018. This event will allow teachers and administrators to review existing resources and new programs for Shaler Area students. Andrew Weckman, President and CEO of The Education Foundation, said, “We recognize Building Bridges and the UcanB Career Education program as an innovative provider in the education space. We are proud to work with this organization and be able to advance both of our goals to reach students and provide exceptional career education.” Alexander Nichols, a #UcanB teacher, met with Shaler students and discussed his experience to get to the CEO level. He provided life lessons from his work at General Electric, Rockwell, and his own business Computer Friend and working for the Minority Purchasing Council, an organization whose mission was to provide opportunities for minority business owners. He described attributes that he would look for in a prospective employee including education, honesty, being a hard worker, and excellent verbal and written communication skills. Nick went on to discuss the benefits of participating in the student government to gain leadership abilities, participating in school activities like the marching band and athletics. Nick also described his involvement in ROTC (Reserved Officer Training Program). An upcoming event for Shaler Area High School students is the Shaler Area High School S.T.E.A.M. Advisory Board’s 4th Annual Community STEAM Expo on February 22nd, 2018. The event will showcase science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics with their application in community business, industries and related fields of study. The expo will be held from 8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. for students and 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. for families. The evening event will coincide with the high school’s winter open house, which will allow students and parents to engage with local STEAM-related companies to see what technologies or opportunities they bring to the community. Information about the Education Foundation and Building Bridges for Business and the UcanB career education program. The Education Foundation is an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Over the many years and granting over $6,000,000 in scholarships to deserving students, The Education Foundation believes that offering opportunities to learn about education and occupation is vital to students and employers. The focus on both new and traditional occupations is necessary for the future health and growth of our economy as well. In order to contribute to students’ academic and intellectual success, The Education Foundation offers tutoring services for students as well as offering scholarships to deserving students, when funds are available. To inquire about tutoring services, contact admin@educationfdn.org or call (412) 453-6272 for more information. Building Bridges for Business is a 501(c)(3) organization headquartered in the Northside of Pittsburgh. UcanB has reached over 25,000 students in the past 3 years alone. UcanB has provided thousands of teaching hours, hosted major city-wide events, and helped people find the right resources and jobs, recently via the West End Employment Center, a cooperative project with Representative Dan Deasy. The flagship program, UcanB, is creating connections between students, communities, and employers to transform careers and economies. UcanB’s proven, career education program, with hands-on curriculum, has over 76 weeks of material, available in a wide array of topics, including entrepreneurship, soft skills, career development, IT careers, green careers, website design and SEO, graphic design, government and politics, careers in healthcare, and more. This customizable curriculum is made available to schools, who select which programs their students need most. To reach Building Bridges for Business contact us at info@BuildingBridgesforBusiness.org or visit our website and leave your comments at www.BuildingBridgesforBusiness.org. Contact for the press release, Linda Handley – cell phone: 412 337...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Strategic Partnership Pittsburgh-Based Education Non-Profits Collaborate Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-February 8th, 2017 The Education Foundation is proud to announce its partnership and collaboration with Building Bridges for Business (U•Can•B). With financial backing from The Education Foundation through generous sponsors and donors, U•Can•B is able and willing to bring workforce development and college readiness courses and curricula to the classrooms. Providing educational and informational courses to teenagers is the best way to expose the students to possible career options available before he or she spends time, money, and energy pursuing the wrong vocation for him or her. These non-profits have many years of experience in the educational and academic fields. From their inceptions, they have been reaching out to scholars from ages 12-18+ by providing scholarships and teaching programs. Through this collaboration, the two non-profit 501(c)3 organizations are able reach the youth in a variety of ways. You can find out more and how to contribute to their cause by visiting www.educationfdn.org and https://buildingbridgesforbusiness.org/u-can-b-program/ “We are excited to work with U•Can•B and the Building Bridges for Business organization and to expand our efforts and believe in the power of collaboration. Students can expand on their formal classroom learning by taking courses in entrepreneurship, science and technology, green and sustainable science, and a variety of trades,” said Frank Orga, President of The Education Foundation. “We are very pleased to be working with the Education Foundation. They understand that their success is directly connected to the success of the communities, organizations, and families and students in the region,” said Linda Handley, Founder of U•Can•B. Dr. Tina Chekan, Superintendent/CEO of Propel Schools, added, “We are grateful for the wonderful programming U•Can•B provides to our students. These educational experiences that bring technology professionals to our schools add to the ways that Propel redefines school each day. We thank The Education Foundation for providing the funding for this program. Propel believes that community partnerships, combined with excellence in academics, will lead to great outcomes for our students.” Entrepreneurs and businesspeople, along with the non-profit organization Building Bridges for Business, are giving local students the chance to see what life is like after high school and college. The U•Can•B program and curriculum is tailored to meet each school’s needs and includes a variety of life learning courses like entrepreneurship, website design and SEO, graphic design and animation, career preparation and networking, and green and sustainable practices and careers. The program further engages the students with our proprietary “Coffee With…” film series that showcases industry leaders and politicians with a variety of insight in those careers. The program is augmented by in person speakers and experts that share real world experiences and advice in career development and planning. For more information about U•Can•B and the Building Bridges initiative, please visit their website at https://buildingbridgesforbusiness.org or send an email to info@BuildingBridgesforBusiness.org. Building Bridges/U•Can•B is located at 1526 Rhine Street in Pittsburgh, PA 15212. Contact for more details: Frank Orga, President of The Education Foundation P. O. Box 153 Glenshaw, PA 15116 forga@educationfdn.org (412) 952-1953   Linda Handley, Founder & CEO of U•Can•B 1526 Rhine Street Pittsburgh, PA 15212 handleyl@buildingbridgesforbusiness.org (412)...