Opportunity Knocks Names Year Up a Winner of "3rd Annual Best Nonprofit to Work For"

Employees laud organization for work/life quality, adherence to their mission of closing the Opportunity Divide and superior career benefits.

BOSTON, MA / February 22, 2010 -- Opportunity Knocks announced the winners today of the 3rd Annual Peoples Choice Best Nonprofit to Work For Awards. Year Up - a national organization that provides career training to low-income young adults and helps them secure internships with top US companies - was named as a Winner based on submissions from Year Up employees across the country.

Lauded by President Barack Obama for its proven, innovative approaches, Year Up's scalable model prepares students for the workforce using a unique combination of technical and professional skills, college credits, an educational stipend and corporate internships. Successful completion of the intensive, one-year program enables graduates to move into full-time employment and higher education. To date, 87% of graduates were placed into positions within four months of graduation, earning an average of $30,000 per year.

"We are honored to be recognized by both Opportunity Knocks and our employees as a great place to work and nurture a career," said Gerald Chertavian, founder and CEO of Year Up. "Our staff is the lifeblood of our organization. The talented individuals who comprise our Year Up family are instrumental to our success as we continue to close the Opportunity Divide and provide urban young adults the opportunity to demonstrate their potential."

Winners were selected from nominations based on employee essay submissions. National nominations were held December 1, 2009 through January 15, 2010 and individuals were told to submit a brief essay on why they consider their organization a great place to work.

Nominators could take into consideration factors that are important to them such as, quality of work/life balance, their organizations' adherence to its mission, comradery of employees, unique benefits, training programs and career paths.

"Opportunity Knocks continues to see the need to provide nonprofit professionals a platform to give recognition and appreciation to the organizations providing quality work environments for the people in jobs that change the world," said Karen Beavor, President and CEO of Opportunity Knocks. "The 3rd Annual Peoples Choice Best Nonprofit to Work For Awards demonstrates how nonprofit organizations can not only make a difference in the community but also have an incredibly positive impact on the lives of the people that work for them. Congratulations to the winners and thanks to all that took the time to submit their nomination."

Contact:
Roberto Zeledon
Senior Director of Marketing & Communications
rzeledon@YearUp.org
617-542-1533 ext. 1563

Contact:
Lynne Norton Marketing Manager
Opportunity Knocks
678-916-3066
lnorton@opportunityknocks.org