The Team Eagle Foundation, a nonprofit established to help recognize the need for continued support of youth by providing them with training, announced this week it is donating $25,000 to the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program to help train the next-generation manufacturing employee.
The donation will be used to develop new support programs to help expose young people to the high-tech STEM world of manufacturing and encourage them to consider the industry as a career path.
Through these programs, students will have access to professional experiences in the manufacturing industry through summer jobs, internships and preapprenticeships.
MEP CEO John Kennedy said he is grateful for the partnership.
“This partnership between TEF and NJMEP will be active in reversing the outdated image of the industry by providing students the chance to experience it for themselves,” he said. “This is a massive step forward for manufacturing and New Jersey.
“There is so much opportunity waiting in the manufacturing industry. Students, their parents and educators just need to know what’s out there.”
Kennedy said students and parents would be stunned by the opportunities.
“The average annual income of a New Jersey manufacturing professional is over $90,000 a year,” he said.
Team Eagle Foundation and NJMEP have been working together to support scholarships such as the Anthony DeSantis Service to America and the Bob Beaman B-Involved Scholarships. They also work together to provide community outreach for the LEDR program, which stands for Leadership Excellence-Direct Results.
LEDR is a strategic youth mentoring camp that has been helping students ages 15-20 for nearly a decade. This partnership has helped over 330 young adults.
This $25,000 investment will be matched dollar for dollar by NJMEP and 100% will be invested in youth programs. Both organizations will be looking for additional supporters, and the return of the Jersey Guys Golf Outing in July will continue to fund scholarships.
“New Jersey needs strong leaders and fresh new professionals in the manufacturing industry,” Kennedy said. “Through this partnership, TEF and NJMEP will be able to bolster their efforts, continue supporting the local community and assist in creating the manufacturing workforce of the future.”
