Culminating its 25th anniversary celebrations at a gala event at the Washington Marriott Marquis, the Marriott Foundation for People with Disabilities raised more than $1.5 million for its Bridges from School to Work program, an initiative which has served more than 20,000 youth with disabilities, helping to train and find employment in nine markets throughout the United States.

 

The Bridges program, created with funding from The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation and designed by Marriott International human resource leaders, assists students with disabilities transition into the workforce by pairing them with companies who need entry–level employees. Over the last three years, Bridges has partnered with more than 500 business to provide work opportunities to program participants. In 2014, 680 students achieved employment placements, with 519 staying in the job for 90 days, and 410 sticking with the job for 180 days or more.

 

”Year after year I am continually impressed by the success of the participants in the Bridges from School to Work program,” says Richard E. Marriott, chairman, Marriott Foundation for People with Disabilities. ”Assisting youth with disabilities transition into the workforce to be self-sufficient is a great privilege, as we are able to witness participants learning to recognize their full potential. I am proud we have been able to assist more than 20,000 youth achieve this goal.”