Upwork Awards $500,000 in Grants Through The Upwork Foundation Initiative
January 27 2021 - 9:00AM
Business Wire
Funding will support ten non-profit
organizations dedicated to the economic empowerment of marginalized
communities
Upwork (NASDAQ: UPWK), the world’s work marketplace, today
announced it has awarded ten $50,000 grants to high-impact
organizations focused on the economic empowerment of marginalized
populations worldwide. Grant winners were selected from Upwork’s
Fall 2020 call for grant applications through The Upwork
Foundation, an initiative designed to open up new prospects for
those at risk of being left behind by the changing nature of
work.
The global pandemic has exacerbated economic inequalities rooted
in systemic injustice, and solutions advanced by each of the
selected nonprofits seek to unlock opportunities for those who are
most impacted. These efforts include connecting low-income
entrepreneurs with job readiness skills and training, providing
education and support to children affected by HIV/AIDS, and
offering legal, advocacy, and employment services to those who
otherwise would not have access.
“Against the backdrop of the impacts of the global pandemic and
racial disparities that were brought sharply into focus, we
ultimately chose these organizations for their efforts to challenge
inequality and their commitment to diversity and inclusion,” says
Anna Ninan, Senior Director leading The Upwork Foundation. “We are
thankful for the work these organizations are doing to uplift and
empower our most vulnerable communities and are proud to support
their efforts.”
Select organizations among the ten Fall 2020 Economic
Empowerment grant recipients include:
Digital NEST
Digital NEST is a high-tech career development center that
prepares young people for tech-involved jobs by providing technical
and essential soft skills classes, as well as paid on-the-job
training. Their centers serve predominantly Latinx youth in the
overlooked agricultural and rural communities of Watsonville and
Salinas, California.
EarthEnable
EarthEnable trains and employs Rwandans and Ugandans as masons
to create and install custom-developed earthen floors in local
homes. Their programs target the significant health challenges
posed by dirt flooring, as well as create long-term solutions for
jobs in Rwanda.
East Bay Community Law Center
East Bay Community Law (EBCLC) was originally founded by a small
group of Berkeley law students in 1988 and is rooted in the Bay
Area of California. Their mission is to promote justice and build
more healthy, secure, productive, and hopeful communities. Their
work in policy advocacy is responsive to the needs of low-income
communities, including housing, healthcare, immigration matters,
legal education, and defense programs.
Friends of Ngong Road
Friends of Ngong Road (FoNR) provides education and support to
impoverished children in Nairobi whose families have been affected
by HIV/AIDS. They focus on engaging children through early
education and retaining them through higher education and into job
skills training and employment. FoNR provides basic needs like food
and additional resources like laptops and software that children
don’t have access to otherwise.
LaunchCode
LaunchCode is a national nonprofit creating economic opportunity
by adding new talent to tech ecosystems across the nation. While
careers in technology have traditionally been reserved for those
who can afford a four-year degree, LaunchCode's programs are free
and accessible to motivated individuals who are assessed for
passion, drive, and aptitude rather than traditional career
credentials. On average, LaunchCoders placed into paid
apprenticeships and jobs earn more than double their previous
salary.
For the full list of grant recipients, please visit here.
About The Upwork Foundation
The Upwork Foundation furthers the company’s mission to create
economic opportunities so people have better lives. It aims to
build a future of inclusive learning and opportunity by serving
those at risk of being left behind by the Fourth Industrial
Revolution as well as supporting other nonprofits and its own
employees in volunteering. The program supports four key areas:
giving, partnerships, product, and volunteering. The Upwork
Foundation initiative includes a donor-advised fund created through
the Tides Foundation. For more information, visit
https://www.upwork.com/ppc/foundation/.
About Upwork
Upwork is the world’s work
marketplace, connecting millions of businesses with independent
talent around the globe. We serve everyone from one-person startups
to 30% of the Fortune 100 with a powerful, trust-driven platform
that enables companies and freelancers to work together in new ways
that unlock their potential. Our talent community earned more than
$2 billion on Upwork in 2019 across more than 8,000 skills,
including website & app development, creative & design,
customer support, finance & accounting, consulting, and
operations. Learn more at www.upwork.com and join us on LinkedIn,
Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210127005226/en/
Elisabeth Copper press@upwork.com
Upwork (NASDAQ:UPWK)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
Upwork (NASDAQ:UPWK)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024