WATERFIELD FOUNDATION GRANTS TUITION FOR ENTIRE CLASS

Waterfield Foundation helps Blue Jacket, Inc., advance its privately-funded programs by granting the tuition of an entire class of disadvantaged job seekers.

FORT WAYNE, INDIANA—  July 11 at 4:15 PM a class of twelve students celebrated their graduation from a Blue Jacket’s job training, with supporters and employers attending with The Waterfield Foundation representatives.  Blue Jacket, Inc., an innovative, Fort Wayne-based nonprofit was created to provide the tools and opportunities to adult ex-offenders and other disadvantaged people to become productive members of society, received a $9,000 grant award from the Waterfield Foundation to support its job training and job placement services serving any individual with a hardship to employment.  

The Waterfield Foundation’s grant will support Blue Jacket’s strategic goal to serve a greater population of people who want to become self-sufficient.  Blue Jacket specializes in job training and job placement while partnering with over 30 local agencies to carry out its mission.

The requests for partnership with other nonprofits were enough to begin serving other candidates who are at a disadvantage in the labor market including homeless, veteran, low income and non-English-speaking individuals.  Blue Jacket’s four-week training not only prepares people for job seeking, but for the unwritten expectations in the workplace, especially what it takes to be a great employee.  Graduates of this training have to prove their worth through action, not strictly sitting through workshops.  With support of Waterfield Foundation, job placement of these disadvantaged people will increase for employers that want to partner with Opportunity Staffing, an in-house, low-risk transitional employment service within Blue Jacket.  For someone working hard to prove their worth to an employer, Opportunity Staffing is the conduit for trust to be built. 

Waterfield Foundation representatives want to encourage any private business, church, or foundation to donate a scholarship for tuition for just one person or even an entire class to attend Blue Jacket.  Blue Jacket turns away 150 people per year seeking a better chance at a career.