Skills Initiative program graduate Jacqueline Saunders spoke about her experience with the program at the check presentation ceremony.

University City District’s West Philadelphia Skills Initiative (WPSI), the nationally recognized job training program, has just received an investment that will allow them to expand their reach to employers across the region. The program, which has been connecting unemployed West Philly residents with University City employers since 2011, has received a $125,000 contribution from the Citizens Bank’s Charitable Foundation, which will go to support their expansion efforts. Since 2012, the Citizens Charitable Foundation has contributed more than $450,000 to the program.

“We are proud to support the [West Philadelphia Skills Initiative] organization as it takes its efforts to the next level, providing more opportunities for unemployed Philadelphians to get the training and support needed to succeed in the workforce,” said Daniel K. Fitzpatrick, President of Citizens Bank, Mid-Atlantic Region, during a presentation that took place this morning at WPSI’s office (see photo). 

Thanks to the support of the Citizens Charitable Foundation, WPSI plans to serve more employers and job seekers by extending its reach to employer partners across the region, targeting positions that have strong starting wages and robust career paths.

Early partners in WPSI’s broadened approach include SEPTA, which worked with the organization to recruit bus operators at a starting salary of $37,000, and the Philadelphia Fire Department, which is working with the Skills Initiative to recruit emergency medical technicians (EMTs) at a starting salary of $44,000.

For more information about the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative, visit: www.universitycity.org/wpsi.