Celebrating 15 Years of Service! | |
YMWIC February 2024 Newsletter | | |
YMWIC Scholars Continue to Achieve | |
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“If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it – then I can achieve it.” ~ Muhammad Ali | |
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Greetings, YMWIC Supporters:
As we celebrate Black History Month, it’s a time for reflection on our journey. Looking back at our Mission and the Foundation's inception, I’m thrilled to see that many of our envisioned goals have been accomplished!
Our achievements serve as the foundation for our future endeavors, carried forward by the dedication of our Alumni. Several Alumni actively participated in workshops, engaging in insightful conversations with our Scholars. They shared how their experiences as YMWIC Scholars have influenced their paths in college, career choices, and personal lives.
In support of our current Scholars and over 100 Alumni, we are excited to have re-structured our services into a holistic model consisting of three pathways to success, our Three Pillars. Our K-12 Scholars are enrolled in our First Pillar which is the Pre-College, After School & Out-of-School Program (PASOSP). Our Second Pillar, the Workplace & Career Readiness Program, which supports our secondary education (high school) Scholars and Alumni, focuses on conventional four-year college and career choices, and career sustainment. The Third Pillar focuses on our Alumni who may not wish to pursue the conventional 4-year college path. The Pre-Apprenticeship Program provides participants with experiences that will help them to become successful contributors in today’s society.
Our continued growth and success are a testament to our unwavering commitment to a clear vision, agility in responding to evolving community needs, data-driven decision-making, and swift adaptation to change. However, none of this would be possible without the invaluable support of our community members.
We invite you to join us in making a tangible difference in the lives of our Scholars and in shaping the future of our community. Whether you are an individual or representative of a corporation or organization, your involvement is crucial. Please feel free to reach out to me directly to explore how you can contribute to YMWIC, a transformative nonprofit organization making a significant impact in our community.
With gratitude,
Richard Roberts, III
(610) 340-2844
rrobertsiii@ymwicfoundation.org
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YMWIC MISSION:
Our mission is to empower and prepare economically disadvantaged and historically underrepresented youth to excel and become leaders in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) careers. We achieve this through a structured and rigorous curriculum, academic tutoring, mentoring, and financial assistance programs. We leverage alliances with K-12 school districts, universities, corporations, and committed partners to accomplish our goals.
YMWIC CORE VALUES:
We Believe we can significantly impact the future of our youth through education and extraordinary leadership.
We Value Commitment, Honor and Accountability and through these principles we are dedicated to the tradition of excellence in serving our youth, our partners and our community.
We Promote Engagement and Collaboration by treating all people with respect and sincerity to create an environment of openness where shared success can be achieved.
We Demonstrate Quality by working efficiently and effectively to continuously improve our programs for the benefit of our Scholars.
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Grateful for Your Generous Support | | |
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YMWIC would like to thank the Brian Dawkins Impact Foundation (BDIF) for their generous donation which will support the YMWIC Pre-Apprenticeship Program. We are excited that these funds will help achieve the successful implementation of this Program. | |
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YMWIC Receives an EITC Contribution from
Mid Penn Bank
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YMWIC would like to thank our partners at Mid Penn Bank for the generous EITC (Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program) donation. These funds will be used to support our After-School and Summer Programming.
Pictured with Mr. Roberts are (from left): Sofia Bobrysheva (Financial Center Associate), Malcolm Weaver (VP Commercial Lending Officer), and Patrick Owens (Financial Center Manager) of Mid Penn Bank.
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This month we are pleased to feature Alumna Andrea Lewis, who graduated from YMWIC in June of 2023. Since graduating, Andrea has concluded her first semester and made the Dean's List at Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) studying Civil Engineering.
We asked Andrea how being a member of YMWIC prepared her for life after graduation and she answered, "Being a member of YMWIC prepared me to be ready for the real world. When I was a Scholar and in high school, I was taught how to present myself with polish and poise in professional settings, network, grow my net worth, and use resources available to me when needed."
Andrea's advice to current or future Scholars is, "Please take advantage of every resource, SIG (Special Interest Group), workshop, or opportunity YMWIC offers because you never know who you may meet, what you might learn, or what you will discover. Take control of your future; and work towards what you desire, because no one else will do it for you!"
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Coatesville Chapter: Riya Kumar is a 7th grade student attending Collegium Charter School. Since joining YMWIC this year, Riya has begun to actually have fun while learning. She intends to take her commitments as a member seriously and to do what is required or asked of her.
Riya enjoys talking with her friends and engaging in social media in her spare time. She doesn't know yet what she would like to study in college or what school she wants to attend. We think you have taken the best step in planning your future by joining YMWIC, Riya.
Stay involved and work hard, Riya; we know you will succeed in whatever path you choose.
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Furness High School, Philadelphia Chapter: Jose Eduardo Saloma Morales is in the 9th grade at Furness. He wants to learn all he can at YMWIC in preparation for college and his career. He enjoys coding and would like to study technology and math in college, although he does not yet know what colleges he may apply to. In his spare time, Jose likes to play games and do homework.
Continue to work hard, Jose; and take advantage of all YMWIC has to offer.
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Martin Luther King High School, Philadelphia Chapter: Lameah Ffrench is a senior at MLK. She is excited to be a member of YMWIC and intends on upholding her commitments as a Scholar, especially since she wants to pursue technology as a field of study. She is proud of her success when enrolled in a college-level course at the Community College of Philadelphia and earning an “A” as a final grade.
Lameah enjoys drawing and animating as well as 3D Modeling. She also loves to bake.
Lameah, your commitment to academic excellence will help ensure a successful future. Keep up the good work!
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Norristown Chapter: Emiliano Lopez Alvarez is in the 9th grade at Norristown Area High School. This is his fourth Program Year as a YMWIC member. He has discovered improvement of his Study Habits and is much more efficient when completing his work. As a member of the Program, he remarks his self-confidence and abilities in public speaking have improved significantly. As a Scholar, he values the learning experiences as a participant on several College Tours with YMWIC. He shared they have been his favorite activities.
Emiliano has decided he would like to study law at Harvard University and become an attorney. In his spare time, he enjoys playing games.
Commit to academic excellence, Emiliano, to reach your goals.
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Upper Darby Chapter: Amadou Sirleaf, a 7th grade student at Beverly Hills Middle School, began his YMWIC membership in our 2023 Summer Program. He is committed to being very involved in the Program, attending workshops and events, and working hard to achieve his academic goals. He said he learned so much during the Summer Program as he completed his Science Project. The weekly field trips were also a bonus—lots of fun while learning!
Amadou would like to study law and become a lawyer; he is considering the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University. He likes to relax, watch Netflix, and play games in his free time.
Welcome, Amadou! Take advantage of the resources and activities provided to help ensure your success now while also preparing you for college.
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West Chester Chapter: Symone Howard, an 8th grade student, earned Distinguished Honor Roll status the first marking period this year at Garnet Valley Middle School. She joined YMWIC when she was in the 6th grade. Symone says, “The many educational activities and experiences available at the Foundation have really helped me with Public Speaking and Time Management. As a member, she plans to attend as many workshops and volunteer as much as she can and learn more about robotics.
Symone would like to be a veterinarian, although she doesn't know what college she may want to attend yet. Her hobbies and free-time activities include drawing, dancing, attending karate classes, running with her track club, playing field hockey, and hanging out with friends.
We’re proud of your accomplishments. Continue to stay committed and work hard, Symone.
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William Penn Chapter: Derrick Hitchcock is a Senior at Penn Wood High School who joined YMWIC as a 9th grade student. He is proud of earning Distinguished Honors recognition since 10th grade for all four marking periods. He added, “I have also earned a plaque for Most Outstanding Sophomore at the end of the 10th grade and again as a Junior. This year as a Senior, I will do my very best to finish off strong!”
Derrick states, “All of the resources and exposure to educational activities will help me be successful in life.” He did his part committing to the Foundation by giving his time, effort and dedication to his responsibilities as a Scholar. Read more.
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Workshops #7 were all STEM-based. In our West Chester, Coatesville, Norristown, Chester, Furness and MLK Chapters, DaVinci Science Partners engaged Scholars with exciting hands-on experiments based on the size of the group and the age of the Scholars. Learning activities included making paper electric circuits or using a Scribbling Machine.
William Penn had a sudden and unexpected virtual workshop due to problems at the site location. YMWIC STEM Educator, Dr. Naomi Hampson, led the younger Scholars in a virtual STEM workshop about optical illusions. They discussed how our eyes work, color blindness, and the three types of optical illusions: physical, physiological, and cognitive. YMWIC Partner, Jimmy White IV, stepped in to lead a workshop with our high school Scholars about Social and Emotional Intelligence. They performed an exercise called "I know I can." After listening to rap artist Nas’ sounds about empowerment to youth, they wrote statements on what they wanted to be in life. Read more.
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Our Philadelphia Martin Luther King & Furness Chapters participated in a city-wide Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service event at Girard College in the Fairmount neighborhood of Philadelphia. This event is one of the longest-running in the city and nation. The event was organized by Global Citizen, a non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting civic engagement, community volunteering, civic responsibility, and sustained active citizenship among diverse groups.
YMWIC Scholars assisted in the event by helping to organize items to be distributed on tables, repairing gently loved stuffed animals that were going to be re-homed, packing goody bags for participants, and greeting the community members who attended.
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The Effects of Income Inequality on Future Educational Achievement
By Anailah Lamb-Towles – Coatesville Chapter
Economic disparities continue to cast long shadows over the landscape of educational opportunities. A study I researched underlines a stark divide: students from lower-income backgrounds often bypass the traditional four-year university route due to prohibitive costs, opting instead for community colleges, trade schools, or immediate entry into the workforce. This financial gatekeeping not only restricts access to certain educational paths but also to the potential socioeconomic mobility that often comes with higher degrees from institutions like Harvard or Yale.
Addressing this imbalance requires innovative solutions and community support. Initiatives like the YMWIC Foundation Inc., are pivotal, providing underrepresented students, like myself, with exposure to college life and arming us with the necessary tools for success after our secondary education and beyond. Read more.
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Beloved -- a Novel about Slavery
By Dayanis Morales – Norristown Chapter
Slavery has existed as long as humans have, which can be considered an American decision that led to the catastrophes and ruins of society. Through slavery, generational trauma and the desire for power are unwillingly created within an enslaved person who yearns for freedom. While there have been many novels exploring the topic of slavery and its repercussions, Beloved, by Toni Morrison, published in 1987 is distinct because it emphasizes the effects of killing one’s child. In the attempt to escape the plantation called Sweet Home, the main character, Sethe, gets cornered into deciding between getting captured again or liberating her kids from the plantation and the torment. Out of desperation, she kills her child, Beloved, in spite of her love for her. Read more.
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Career & Workplace Corner | |
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The YMWIC Career and Workplace Readiness Program includes our Job Shadowing, Internships and Job Placement programs. Scholars in this Program have plans to attend, or are encouraged to pursue, a four-year college degree. Jupiter Scholars (10-12th grades) will have Job Shadowing opportunities with our Partners. Senior Scholars (12th grade) and Alumni participate in internships with our Partners to gain valuable workplace experience and earn while they learn.
Our Team also works closely with our college graduates, so they acquire professional jobs in their field of study.
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Senior Updates
Furness, Philadelphia Chapter
Adam Marcello has received a full ride to Harvard College in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was accepted with a QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship.
Martin Luther King, Philadelphia Chapter
Jayonna Couch has been accepted to nine colleges, several of which have offered her scholarships.
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Lucina Salgado is the mother of Dayanis Salgado. Dayanis, a Norristown Chapter Scholar, is also one of the celebrated Junior Editors of our monthly newsletters. Mrs. Salgado says her family discovered YMWIC during an Open House at her daughter’s school in 2022. After receiving information about the Foundation, they were convinced to join. Mrs. Salgado says, "Through YWMIC involvement, I have noticed my daughter has much more confidence in herself, and there is a noticeable improvement in her public speaking skills." She says during parent conferences, Dayanis' teachers would tell her that she was really quiet in the past; but they no longer say that, which is evidence of her improvement.
We asked Mrs. Salgado what she would say to other families who are considering joining the Foundation, and she replied, "Join! Maybe your kid isn’t big on technology or engineering, but YMWIC has so much more to offer. If you bring your child to a workshop, you’ll see the bonds they create and the fun they have."
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YMWIC 13th Annual Science Expo
On Saturday, February 24, 2024, YMWIC will host our Annual Science Expo & Scholar Presentations. Beginning in September, YMWIC Scholars selected a Science Project and used the scientific method to execute their projects. They are required to meet specific deadlines for their Project Research Plan, Lab Report, Project Board, and PowerPoint Presentation. The culmination of their project is the presentation and defending of their project at the Expo.
Volunteers from many YMWIC Partner Corporations and Universities have been serving as mentors to the Scholars throughout the project process and will judge the Scholars’ presentation boards and oral presentations during the morning. During the afternoon session, you can view all of the Science Project exhibits and meet the Scholars. After the exhibits, our dynamic keynote speaker will deliver an inspiring message. Free on-campus parking will be available. Scholars' parents, guests, and members of the community can register here.
If you have an interest in becoming a Sponsor of this exciting event which includes a half page black-and-white ad in the Program Book and features your logo on the Sponsor Page, please click here. You can also use the link to purchase an ad in our Program Book. Thank you!
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YMWIC 2024 Summer Programs
The YMWIC 2024 Summer Camps are exciting, educational, and fun-filled six-week experiences for rising 1st through 9th* grade as of September, who will have great experiences exploring new concepts in math, chemistry, biology, computer science, robotics, language arts, reading, art, and much more!! Camps will take place from June 17th – July 26, 2024 at locations within YMWIC Partner School Districts. There will be weekly field trips; previous trips have included The Franklin Institute, Philadelphia Zoo, Camden’s Adventure Aquarium, and The Academy of Natural Sciences — all included with registration!
The YMWIC STEAM & Language Arts Camp locations are in Coatesville, Norristown, Phoenixville, Upper Darby, and West Chester, PA. Register your Camper by clicking on your desired location below.
Coatesville YMWIC 2024 STEAM & Language Arts Camp
Norristown YMWIC 2024 STEAM & Language Arts Camp
Phoenixville YMWIC 2024 STEAM & Language Arts Camp
Upper Darby YMWIC 2024 STEAM & Language Arts Camp
West Chester YMWIC 2024 STEAM & Language Arts Camp
The YMWIC William Penn Summer Bridge Camp for rising 8th and 9th grade students will take place from June 17 – July 26, 2024 and will meet within the William Penn School District. We are supporting William Penn School District by preparing students who will be entering high school in Fall, 2024. Campers will enjoy hands-on learning experiences, college tours, academic readiness activities, public speaking, and much more. Rising 8th and 9th grade students are welcome! Click this link to for more information and to register.
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Young Men and Women In Charge Foundation, Inc., is hosting our 2024 Annual YMWIC Upward Bound Summer Programs in Upper Darby and Coatesville. This program is Program is a great opportunity for Upper Darby and Coatesville School District students who will be first generation college students in their families. The six-week experience will enrich, expose, and prepare Scholars for college and provide insight into future employment opportunities. They will experience projects in the arts, entrepreneurship, mentoring, leadership, golf; and also enjoy college and career readiness including weekly college tours, math and English and Language Arts enrichment, and weekly athletic activity. The program takes place on Monday through Thursday, from June 17 – July 25, 2024.
Scholars will participate in college campus tours of six Philadelphia-area colleges and visit Fortune 100 corporations. The program will end with our very popular and well-attended complimentary buffet dinner recognizing the end of the Upward Bound Summer Program with Scholars and parents at the Penn Oaks Golf Club. Every Upward Bound member who is an Upper Darby School District student will receive a CASH STIPEND. Click here to register for this enriching and life-enhancing opportunity.
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YMWIC 14th Annual Scholarship & Awards Banquet
This year, YMWIC will host our 14th Annual Scholarship & Awards Banquet. This exciting event will be held at the Sheraton Valley Forge Hotel in King of Prussia, PA, on Thursday, May 23, 2024. During the Banquet, we showcase our Scholars for their achievements and reward our graduating senior Scholars with the college scholarships they have earned to attend the colleges of their choice. There will be a delicious dinner and an inspiring message from our Keynote Speaker.
We will also honor industry executives who are champions in supporting YMWIC and our communities with the following Awards:
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West Impact Award: ifm efector, inc.
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Educational Leadership Award for Secondary Education: Dr. Christina L. Taylor
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Educational Leadership Award for Post-Secondary Education: Dr. Brandon J. Mitchell
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Community Leadership Award: Mrs. Frances M. Sheehan
Join us as we celebrate our Scholars and Community Leaders and enjoy an evening of fellowship and fun! To register to attend this amazing event or to make a donation, use this link.
To Sponsor this popular event, make a donation, or purchase an ad in our Souvenir Program Booklet, please click here.
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YMWIC 11th Annual Scholarship & STEM Golf Classic
Join us on Monday, September 9, 2024, at the fabulous Penn Oaks Golf Club in a Scramble Golf Tournament and Fundraiser to support our Scholarship Program for the Young Men and Women In Charge (YMWIC) Foundation, Inc. You will meet our Scholars, network, and have fun as you help us raise scholarship funds.
Golfers will receive gifts and enjoy an open buffet lunch and an open buffet dinner. There will be prizes for our guests and winners. For non-golfers, please join us for the evening banquet and networking dinner event, which will include a delicious buffet dinner and much more. Click here to register.
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
Below are key dates for upcoming events planned for the YMWIC 2023-2024 Program Year:
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February 24: YMWIC 13th Annual Science Expo and Scholar Presentations
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March 22 - 24: NSBE 50th Annual Convention (National Society of Black Engineers)
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March 25 - 29: College Tour to Atlanta, GA, and visit to The King Center
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April 27: Robotics Team Competition in Washington, DC
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April to May: Scholar Job Shadowing with YMWIC Foundation's Corporate Partners
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May 23: YMWIC 14th Annual Scholarship & Awards Banquet at the Sheraton Valley Forge Hotel
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June 17 - July 26: Elementary School STEAM & Language Arts Camp, Middle School Science Retreat, and High School Upward Bound Summer Programs
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May - August: Summer Internships for YMWIC High School Scholars and Alumni
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September 9: YMWIC 11th Annual Scholarship & STEM Golf Classic at Penn Oaks Golf Club
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YMWIC is a non-profit 501(c3) Pennsylvania Corporation. Our Mission is to empower and prepare economically disadvantaged and historically underrepresented youth to excel and become leaders in STEM careers. We are looking for talented, motivated, and qualified individuals with initiative who are committed to our Mission to competently fill the following roles in the Foundation:
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Project Coordinator – Full-time
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STEM Educators – Part-time
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Tutors – Part-time
Click Here for more information about these positions. If you are interested in applying for a position listed above, please let us know your preference and submit your resume to employment@ymwicfoundation.org. All candidates must have the required clearances: Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance, Pennsylvania State Police Criminal History Clearance, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Criminal History Clearance which is required for all employees and some volunteers.
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Volunteers Needed
If you or your organization would like to be a valued volunteer for YMWIC, please use this link. We welcome and appreciate your talents, time, and willingness to work with us!
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Follow YMWIC on Facebook
and Instagram
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Keep up with our Scholars and Program! You can stay on top of what YMWIC Scholars are doing by following us on both of our social media platforms, Instagram and Meta (formerly Facebook). This is a great way to receive constant updates on what’s happening at YMWIC. All you must do is go on your Instagram and/or Meta (Facebook) app and type YMWICscholars. Once you see our logo pop up, click Follow. Drop a Comment to say hello! Welcome to our social media family! Looking forward to seeing you join in on the fun.
To connect with us online on Meta/Facebook, select this Link! To stay up to date with what’s happening at YMWIC via Instagram, you can select this Link.
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Thank You for your Generous Support | |
Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC): YMWIC Foundation, Inc., is eligible to receive funds from the EITC Program which is administered by Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development. We thank those businesses that donate their EITC funding to YMWIC Foundation and encourage others to consider directing funding to our impactful community nonprofit that provides college and career preparation for K-12 students; empowers their families; counseling, financial support and internships for YMWIC college alumni; and enriches our communities through Community Service activities, increasing the number of college graduates, and developing a talented and skilled workforce. Please contact Rick Roberts at (610) 340-2844 if you would like to consider our YMWIC Foundation, Inc., as the recipient of your company's EITC funds. | |
Thank You for your Generous Support | | | | |
