Children First Awarded $5,000 Grant Supporting Women

The Margaret L. Bates Fund of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County awarded Children First a $5,000 grant to support a Career Readiness for Women course through the agency’s Families First Institute. The Institute is a family-focused initiative aimed at strengthening Sarasota County’s most economically vulnerable families. The grant will play a vital role in empowering women to improve their financial situation, further their education, and move their families out of poverty.
Career Readiness is a course specifically designed for women interested in developing their professional skills either for the first time or to re-enter the workforce, as well as women looking to strengthen their position in the workplace. Each participant in Career Readiness is matched with a mentor who takes the class alongside her, which provides a friendly and welcoming approach to any participant in need of further support, or who has any questions.
Attendees begin with a class on self-esteem to understand its importance and value, as research has proven that when women realize they are worthy of success, everything else clicks into place. This first class sets the tone for the entirety of the program, with classes ranging in topics from “Dress for Success,” to “How to Write a Resume.”
Thanks to the generosity of the Community Foundation, this class will be provided at no cost to participants and will also include dinner and childcare so there are no barriers to attending. Career Readiness has been an important and integral class as part of the Families First Institute for many years, helping mothers to achieve financial success and self-sufficiency.