WASHINGTON, D.C. – In February 2022, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the Donohue Family Foundation announced a new nationwide scholarship fund for individuals of all backgrounds pursuing skilled careers not requiring a four-year degree.
More than 800 aspiring workers applied, seeking scholarships for well-paying, high-demand skilled careers in industries including Communications, Construction, Energy, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Public Service, Technology, and Transportation.
Now, the first of fifty $2,000 Donohue Family SkillPointe Scholarships, which honor longtime U.S. Chamber CEO Tom Donohue and his commitment to workforce development, are being awarded to twelve individuals.
The new recipients represent a wide range of ages (18 – 54) and ethnicities, and hail from 12 states. They are pursuing such careers as nursing, aviation maintenance, filmmaking, solar energy, physical therapy, IT systems, HVAC, and others.
The recipients include Peter G., a future solar technician from Houston, Texas. His new scholarship will help him increase his household income and realize a better future for his family and his fellow citizens.
“I want to help push the forefront of clean energy and advance the solar energy industry,” Peter shared. “Getting into solar energy and other energy sources that are cleaner is the right thing to do. Saving the planet and earning money at the same time sounds like a double win! Solar energy still feels like an afterthought, and I want to be at forefront of sharing it with the American public so we can all grow as a group and continue to build upwards towards a better society with clean energy resources.”
“A skilled workforce will ensure that our nation continues to innovate and remain globally competitive,” said Suzanne P. Clark, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “We’re so pleased to partner with the Donohue Family Foundation and the SkillPointe Foundation on this scholarship fund. Tom Donohue remains passionate about strengthening our workforce, and the selected winners are a talented group of individuals that will excel in their careers in high-demand industries.”
“We are thrilled that our very first group of Donohue Family SkillPointe Scholars looks like America in so many ways,” said Alvin Townley, Founding Executive Director of the Atlanta-based SkillPointe Foundation, which manages the scholarship program. “And the tremendous response and high number of applications reminds us of the continuing need to help aspiring workers afford the training they need to acquire skills that will give them greater income mobility. These skills are, in turn, exactly what American industry needs to bridge the skills gap and remain competitive.”
“Scholarships shouldn’t just be for four-year degrees,” Townley added. “The SkillPointe Foundation and its partners are changing that misconception.”
The SkillPointe Foundation began awarding scholarships for vocational skills training in 2021 and has raised more than $1 million from individuals, foundations, and organizations including The Home Depot, NetJets, and U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
To learn more or apply for the next round of scholarship awards, please visit www.SkillPointeFoundation.org.
Contacts
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation
Joseph Davis, Senior Manager, Communications
jdavis@uschamber.com
SkillPointe Foundation
Alvin Townley, Executive Director
ATownley@SkillPointeFoundation.org
About the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation is dedicated to strengthening America’s long-term competitiveness. We educate the public on the conditions necessary for business and communities to thrive, how business positively impacts communities, and emerging issues and creative solutions that will shape the future.
About the Donohue Family Foundation
The Donohue Family Foundation was established by Thomas and Elizabeth Donohue to support non-profit institutions making a tangible and positive difference in peoples’ lives. For over two decades, the Foundation has made impactful contributions to advance cancer research, support children’s healthcare, feed and empower the homeless, help those battling substance abuse, and provide greater access to quality education, training, and opportunity.
About the SkillPointe Foundation
The SkillPointe Foundation partners with organizations like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, The Home Depot Foundation, and NetJets to provide financial aid to individuals of all backgrounds seeking skills training for high-demand careers not requiring a four-year degree. Specifically, the SkillPointe Foundation works with donors to manage strategic scholarship programs that increase opportunities for aspiring workers and build the talent pool needed by American industry. In its first twelve months of operation, the Foundation has awarded 100 scholarships nationwide. It is an independent affiliate of SkillPointe.com.
