obs for Arizona’s Graduates (JAG) has announced a $300,000 grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. The nonprofit partners with school districts, the business community and the public sector to help students stay in school and acquire the academic, personal, leadership and vocational skills they will need to be successful after graduation.
“JAG is helping students in underserved communities overcome the barriers they face completing school and finding work after graduation,” said American entrepreneur and philanthropist Bob Parsons. “Renee and I believe that everyone deserves the chance to pursue the American Dream, and helping students obtain a quality education and a reliable job sets them on the right path.”
JAG programming focuses on three core areas: transitioning from middle school to high school, college and career readiness, and college success. The programs are designed to increase graduation rates by providing academic intervention, mentorship, resiliency skill-building and career exploration to help underserved youth succeed in high school and beyond.
“Jobs for Arizona’s Graduates has seen significant growth in the past 12 months, and this grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation will go a long way in sustaining new programming and helping us to reach even more students,” said Graciela Garcia-Candia, president of Jobs for Arizona’s Graduates. “We are thankful for all of our partners who make it possible for us to help deserving young adults obtain their high school diplomas and be given the tools necessary to reach their full potential.”
The organization’s recent growth included the launch of several new in-school JAG programs in Avondale, Tolleson, Phoenix and Tucson. JAG currently serves more than 1,200 young people through 25 different programs across multiple partner schools in Arizona, many of which are located in primarily low-income areas.
“By offering services in the areas of dropout prevention and career training, JAG is helping youth in Arizona finish school and grow into the next generation of productive workers and leaders,” said businesswoman and philanthropist Renee Parsons.
JAG’s history in Arizona dates to the 1980s, where the first program was launched at Tolleson Union High School. Today, JAG continues to help young people achieve economic prosperity by paying thorough attention to their personal and environmental circumstances, providing career and life skills workshops and professional development through student-led Career Association Chapters. To learn more, visit www.jagaz.org or follow @JagArizona on Facebook and @Jag_Arizona on Twitter.
