Walmart Foundation gives some "Goodwill" to help single mothers find employment

ROCKVILLE, Md. -- The Walmart Foundation and Goodwill have teamed up to provide single mothers with all the tools they need to find employment, succeed in the workplace and permanently support their families. The Walmart Foundation's grant of $2.5 million will support the program, known as Beyond Jobs, at Goodwill agencies in the five key markets of Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles County, Detroit, and New York City, through 2012.

In addition to job training and placement, the program also supports each woman's continued success by designing an individualized, holistic plan that outlines how they will retain their jobs, advance in their careers, and ensure long-term financial stability for themselves and their children, Goodwill said.

Each participant in the Beyond Jobs program receives a complete career assessment, individualized career planning, job skills training and assistance with job placement. Recognizing that landing a job is only one step on the road to success, Beyond Jobs also provides mothers with continued financial education, family strengthening services, early education and child care assistance, and connections to healthy food and nutrition initiatives.

"Now more than ever, we are looking for ways to provide opportunities for those who are out of work and facing tough times," said Margaret McKenna, president of the Walmart Foundation. "This grant to Goodwill will support single mothers across the country by assuring they have access to gaining the necessary skills for today's jobs. We are pleased to support this project because it gives single mothers the opportunity to continue to play a vital role in the work force while providing for themselves and their families."