For the past two years, the dollar-for-dollar match has allowed the Foundation to help more than 1,100 individuals in need launch a career in IT.
Bob O’Malley, chairman of CompTIA and the CompTIA Educational Foundation, and president and CEO of InFocus, recommended the renewal of the matching program to CompTIA’s board, saying, “By supporting the Foundation’s efforts, CompTIA and its members not only breathe new life into our industry but enable people to change their lives for the better. I challenge each IT leader to step up to the plate, donate to the Foundation, and help individuals in need launch their IT careers.”
The Foundation is closing in on its $1 million fundraising goal for 2009, and is pushing hard for cash and in-kind donations these last few weeks in December. All donations to the Foundation are 100% tax-deductible.
Already this year, the Foundation surpassed several record marks:
- 13,200 Individuals received tech career counseling,
- 825 Individuals in need trained for an IT career,
- 554 Military and disabled veterans received IT training,
- 528 Women and minorities received IT training,
- 344 Individuals in need achieved CompTIA certification,
- 168 Dislocated individuals in need received IT training,
- 45 Non-military individuals with disabilities received IT training, and
- 24 Youth-at-risk received IT training.
The Foundation’s Creating Futures program provides career opportunities to groups of people historically under-represented in the IT industry, including U.S. military veterans, individuals with disabilities, minorities, women, at-risk youth and dislocated workers. The program works with employers to identify their hiring needs, then tailors education and training programs to help individuals obtain the skills the employers are looking for to enable them to secure IT careers.
To apply for training or to make a donation, which will be matched by CompTIA, visit the Foundation’s website, http://www.CompTIA-EF.org.
