For the second year in a row, City of Refuge has received a $250,0000 grant from The UPS Foundation, which drives global corporate citizenship and philanthropic programs for UPS. The grant will be used toward the Workforce Innovation Hub’s vocational training programs that offer mentoring and training focused on job readiness and job placement.
 
City of Refuge was founded in 1997 to assist homeless mothers and children by providing them a safe haven during distress. The organization offers support and resources to victims of sex trafficking, expectant young women, mothers with children and single women. In 2017, the nonprofit announced a $25.6 million campaign to raise funds for expanding operations, including the opening of the Workforce Innovation Hub last year.
 
“Through the programs within the Workforce Innovation Hub, we’re not only teaching vocational skills, we are restoring a sense of dignity to those who feel lost or simply down on their luck,” said Bruce Deel, founder and CEO of City of Refuge. “The team that oversees the education and workforce placement process is dedicated to providing an environment where students feel comfortable to let their guards down. We believe in the power of second chances and are grateful to The UPS Foundation for this generous donation, which will help us continue to bring light, hope and transformation to the beloved 30314 community.”

The Workforce Innovation Hub currently provides a variety of workforce training programs in the areas of automotive, culinary arts, customer service, security and patient care. Last September, the Workforce Innovation Hub also launched its junior developer training program at its Tech Academy, which hosts six-month coding courses in conjunction with Interapt and Accenture to provide Westside residents with the skills to succeed in the information technology industry.
 
Through the help of partners like UPS, City of Refuge has transformed the lives of more than 20,000 individuals. In 2018, the nonprofit placed 365 graduates from its various workforce programs into jobs across the City of Atlanta.
 
“The UPS Foundation is honored to support City of Refuge’s efforts to continue building and enhancing the Workforce Innovation Hub to host exceptional vocational training programs for the deserving Westside residents,” said Eduardo Martinez, president of The UPS Foundation and chief diversity and inclusion officer at UPS. “Our goal is to fund powerful programs that make a lasting difference to the global community.”