YEAR UP'S BRIDGE BUILDERS

THE CHALLENGES		THE OPPORTUNITIES
There are 1.4 million unemployed urban young adults with a high school diploma or GED		87% of Year Up graduates are employed and earning an average starting salary of more than $15 per hour
Nearly 70% of new jobs require some kind of education or training beyond high school		Year Up graduates will earn an additional $1,450,000 over their lifetime
40% of all high school graduates are unprepared for college or a job beyond the entry-level		More than 90% of Year Up Scholars meet or exceed their apprenticeship manager’s expectations
Less then 10% of low-income individuals are earning college degrees		Nearly 50% of Year Up graduates are enrollled in a college degree program

The Year Up Scholars Program builds bridges over the chasm that separates our urban young adults from opportunity.

Bridge Builders are a unique group of investors who believe in possibility.
Their $5,000 annual contribution, or combined contribution with another investor, provides one urban young adult with the skills, guidance, and support needed to succeed.	$5,000
	+
The Year Up Scholar’s Program enables Bridge Builders to leverage this investment with $19,000 of matching funds from public and corporate stakeholders...	$19,000
	=
Thus completing a bridge to a livable-wage job and postsecondary education for a Year Up Scholar.

As a Bridge Builder see first-hand how your investment directly impacts a young adult’s life over a course of a year. By building a bridge for a Year Up Scholar you will have the opportunity to:

• Experience a Scholar’s journey through the program with regular updates
• Interact with Scholars in the classroom and at events
• Be recognized as a Bridge Builder within the Year Up and local community

Year up scholars

Devy RodriGuez, 2006 Graduate
Data Security Coordinator at Textron
"Year Up has changed my life in many ways. They helped me open doors, so that I could live a better life and provide for my daughter. After a great apprenticeship at Textron, I was hired full-time as a Data Security Coordinator. No matter what the situation, the staff never gave up, or let me give in, when times were rough. It always helps to have a little more support and they provided that for me. Its nice to know that I can still walk through the doors, either for conversation or for help, and that they’ll always welcome me with open arms."

CarLOS Torres, 2005 Graduate
Trading Application Support Specialist at State Street Corporation
"After graduating from high school with no college to look forward to and only a part-time job, I couldn't see the possibilities of having a better life. At the very young age of 17, I became a father. I wanted to provide a better life for my child than I had experienced. However, I didn't have any guidance through the process and the challenges became even greater when we had a second child. With the help of Year Up, I discovered the motivation to succeed and the opportunity to financially support my family. Now, my future looks bright. I have great technical, communication, and speaking skills to help me in the work environment."

Michael Lombardo, CLASS OF JANUARY 2007
Apprentice at Partners HealthCare
“Year up has definitely changed my life. I had been trying to get into college for awhile and the fact that I loved computers my whole life made the program the perfect fit for me. I went from a full time employee in the restaurant business to an ever-growing field of information-technology. I am at a job where most college graduates dream of being and more importantly a job that I love. I work with great people and I'm learning something new everyday. I still have a long way to go in life, but Year Up opened a door to a room I never even knew existed. After Year Up, I will hopefully find an IT job with a great company and be able to continue my college education.”

Willmarie Narvaez, Class of January 2007
Apprentice at Pioneer Investments
“I am a full-time single mom and student at Year Up. Before coming to Year Up I was working full-time and taking care of Destiny, my 4 year-old daughter. I had the urge to go back to school and better myself, but I couldn't find a school that fit my needs and my schedule. I felt that I had to choose to either leave my job or not go to school. Either way, I couldn't afford not to be working. I heard about Year Up through a previous student and decided to apply, even though making such a big change in my life was very challenging.

Here I am eight-months later and doing very well at my apprenticeship. I have earned 18 college credits and am planning on continuing my education. Joining Year Up was the best thing that I have done for myself, as well as my child, and I wouldn't have done anything differently.”