St. Madeleine Sophie's Center Receives $10,000 Grant From Bank of America
The grant will fund the Center's Work Activity Program to help developmentally disabled adults find employment.
- San Diego, CA (1888PressRelease) June 04, 2015 - St. Madeleine Sophie's Center (SMSC), an El Cajon-based center serving adults with developmental disabilities, was awarded a $10,000 grant from Bank of America to fund the Center's Work Activity Program. The Work Activity Program helps SMSC students prepare for and find employment in San Diego County through community-based individual employment, group job sites, or participation in SMSC's social enterprise ventures.
The program operates on a year-round basis and responds to the employment needs of 280 developmentally disabled adults of the Center's enrollment of 400 individuals. St. Madeleine Sophie's Center provides training in kitchen and food prep, retail services, sales, landscaping, computer skills, janitorial, resume building and administrative skills.
SMSC galleries, garden and Aquatics Center also provide jobs and income-earning opportunities. Now in its 15th year, Sophie's Gallery & Gift Shop in El Cajon as well as Sophie's Gallery in Kensington (in partnership with Autism Research Institute) provide students the ability to earn income from selling paintings, jewelry and a variety of artwork.
Job coaches work with groups of students the total time they are at the job site, which is typically three hours per day. With additional coaching, selected students are supported over the course of a year to 18 months in order for them to move onto individual job placements within the community.
"The majority of adults with developmental disabilities are either unemployed or underemployed, despite their ability, desire, and willingness to work in the community," explains Debra Emerson, CEO of SMSC. "We're so proud to offer a program at St. Madeleine Sophie's Center that enables and encourages these adults to maximize their work potential."
Other employers of SMSC students include Souplantation, KFC, Albertsons, NASSCO, City of El Cajon, City of La Mesa, Aunty Lyn's Daycare, Children's Choice Day Care, Paradise Point and McGrath Family YMCA.
Bank of America's generous donation will greatly assist St. Madeleine's Work Activity Program that serves approximately 280 individuals annually.
"We are so grateful for this incredible grant Bank of America has given us," says Emerson. "Generous supporters and donations are what keep our valuable programs running and constantly improving."
For more information about St. Madeleine Sophie's Center, visit stmsc.org.
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