Diversity Journal - Jul/Aug 2009

Page 28

Profiles in Diversity Journal

3

2009 International Innovation in Diversity Awards

School-to-Work Program with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Miami

In October 2008, Burger King Corp. launched an unprecedented three-year school-to-work program in conjunction with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Miami. The graduation rate for Miami-Dade County high school students is 49 percent, which is one of the reasons this program was created. Through the new “King-sized” school-to-work program, Burger King Corp. pledged to provide career planning mentors to the students of Miami-Dade County to help improve the graduation rates of local high school students. Older high school students who have been historically more difficult to match would be served. The students were paired one-on-one with a Burger King Corp. employee in order to gain valuable skills, job training and exposure to the full array of possible BURGER KING® career opportunities. Once a month during the school year, the students meet with their mentor at Burger King Corp., working side-by-side with them and gaining insight into what the daily work environment and routine would be like. The students also meet once a month with their mentor outside of the office. In the first year of the program, the focus is geared towards teaching the students an array of basic life skills. Then, in year two, the spotlight is on learning job-related skills by providing them with actual work experience at a BURGER KING® restaurant. Finally, in the third year of the program, the students plan for continuing with their education. They also will receive scholarships to help defray college expenses. Throughout the program, the students are exposed to the importance of education, receive help with the transition from school to work and create a clear vision for their future. In addition to career planning and restaurant-based work experience, students participate in fun team-building events and workshops. The program has already resulted in more than 70 “big” and “little” matches in its first year, making Burger King Corp. the largest mentor provider of any organization to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Miami. Burger King Corp. employees have connected with the community and provided more than 400 hours of mentoring for students, which is especially significant since Miami has the lowest rate of volunteerism among all major U.S. cities. PDJ

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Pro f i les i n Di ve rsit y Journal

J u ly / A u g u s t 2 0 0 9

4

Impact Taking Bright Minds Further

In fall 2007, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) launched a unique educational community initiative called Impact, which grew out of a simple idea…taking bright minds further. The program for academically talented Black/ African-American high school juniors seeks to broaden their educational horizons and give them the information and tools to help them achieve admission into some of the premier colleges and universities in the country. The Impact program enables PwC to make a meaningful impact that changes lives and opens doors for young people while supporting our diversity and inclusion objectives. It also provides rewarding volunteer opportunities to partners and professionals. Administered through a series of workshops over a 15-month period, the Impact curriculum was developed with expertise from an independent educational consultant retained by the firm. PwC volunteers mentor Impact Scholars, attend the workshops, and help scholars navigate the college planning and application process. Since launching the inaugural class of 56 Impact Scholars in the New York City and Washington Metro areas in January 2008, there have been immediate results, including: • Nearly 90% graduation rate of the inaugural class of Impact Scholars completing the program. • One-on-one counseling meetings with 100% of the scholars, their parents/guardians and mentors to review academic performance, test scores, college lists, and provide guidance. • Increased scope of PwC’s local relationships through targeted promotional outreach to approximately 155 high schools and community- and faith-based organizations in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. • Doubled the number of markets served and Impact Scholars and mentors to 300+. • 72% of the seniors reporting in thus far have applied to an average of eight schools each, with the exception of a few who applied “early decision” to only one school. The objective of the multi-year commitment is to roll out the Impact program in up to seven major markets and reach 1,000 promising high school juniors. In May, PwC’s inaugural class of Impact Scholars from New York City and Washington, D.C., successfully graduated from the program with 100 percent of the graduating scholars achieving acceptance into a diverse range of competitive colleges. PDJ


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