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Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation awards $75,000 grant to CAP Services
Dollars to support the agency’s Skills Enhancement Program in the Fox Cities
| APPLETON, Wis. (July 2, 2008) – The Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation recently awarded a $75,000 grant to CAP Services’ Fox Cities Skills Enhancement Program.
“The Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation is pleased to deepen our relationship with CAP Services based on the proven success of the Skills Enhancement Program to promote financial self-sufficiency,” said John Wollner, community grants officer for the Thrivent Financial Foundation. In 2007, the program helped 31 low-income Fox Cities-area individuals increase their annual income by an average of $13,169. To date in 2008, 14 individuals have completed their training and increased their annual income by an average of $10,200. CAP Director of Human Development Nicole Harrison said, “We appreciate the increased level of support from the Thrivent Financial Foundation. We’ve seen our direct costs – tuition, books and especially mileage reimbursement – increase significantly. Our average direct cost per participant per year is about $1,100, up about $324 or 42 percent higher than last year. Gasoline costs, as everyone knows, are so much higher than last year, and for most of our participants the second highest cost they have for obtaining training.” The Skills Enhancement Program helps working individuals with incomes at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines obtain training needed to compete for living-wage jobs that move them out of poverty. To be eligible, participants must be working and continue working at least 20 hours a week while enrolled, and must pursue training for occupations that pay a living wage and typically offer employer-sponsored health insurance. Participants receive financial assistance with tuition, books, training-related childcare and transportation. Currently 150 percent of the federal poverty guideline is $15,600 for a single individual and increases by $5,400 for each additional household member. Fox Cities-area residents interested in the program should contact Joelle at 920-968-6365. The Skills Enhancement Program is a United Way partner program. CAP Services is a private, nonprofit community action agency that has been helping low-income residents of Marquette, Outagamie, Portage, Waupaca and Waushara counties attain economic and emotional self-sufficiency since 1966. About Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation The Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation is a private foundation funded by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. The foundation operates for charitable, religious, scientific, literary and educational purposes and makes grants exclusively to 501(c)(3) exempt organizations. The foundation does not provide grants to individuals. To learn more about the foundation and its programs, visit: www.thrivent.com/fraternal/foundation. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is a Fortune 500 organization that helps nearly 3 million members achieve their financial goals and give back to their communities. Thrivent Financial offers a broad range of financial services and sponsors national outreach programs that support congregations, schools, charitable organizations and individuals in need. For more information, visit www.thrivent.com. -END- |
| Contact Information: | |||
| Dave Rustad, APR Senior Media Relations Specialist dave.rustad@thrivent.com Phone: (612) 844-7037 | Stacy Eckes-Borys Senior Media Relations Specialist stacy.eckes-borys@thrivent.com Phone: (920) 628-2445 | ||
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