USA Cares Adopts Senior Leaders Corporate Fellowship Program as Where Opportunity Knox Wraps Up Successful Three-Year Program

Where Opportunity Knox, a regional initiative to connect transitioning Veterans and/or military spouses to jobs and careers, announced today that its Senior Leaders Corporate Fellowship Program has been adopted and will be managed and implemented in the future by USA Cares, a national nonprofit organization supporting military families in crisis.

Over the last two years, the Senior Leaders Corporate Fellowship Program has become Where Opportunity Knox’s signature initiative. The Fellowship provides individuals in transition from military to civilian careers the opportunity to spend 8 weeks working at an area company. The Fellows work at their host company Tuesday through Friday where they work on projects, shadow business leaders and experience the civilian workplace. They have development courses on Mondays at Fort Knox to learn about resume writing, interview skills, using social media in a job search, etc. Since the start of the program more than 90% of the Fellows have accepted jobs in the region, most with their host company, including GE Appliances, Amazon, Beam Suntory, Brown-Forman, TARC, Trilogy Health Services and UPS.

USA Cares’ goal is to help restore financial stability and self-sufficiency to post-9/11 veterans and military families by giving them “a hand up.” The organization strives to reach families at the earliest stage of intervention to prevent further financial distress and suffering, especially for the combat injured and their families. In 2018, they broadened their scope to include assisting transitioning individuals and Veterans with finding their civilian careers.

“By adopting the successful Senior Leaders Corporate Fellows Program from Where Opportunity Knox, we hope to leverage the great work to date and continue to grow the program and its impact,” said Hank Patton, President and CEO of USA Cares. “It is a great fit for our organization as our existing Career Transition program provides individuals with tools and resources to better prepare them for the hiring process, and refers qualified candidates to corporate organizations with open positions of employment specific to their skillsets. Additionally, our program helps pay an individual’s essential expenses while they train for a new job, relieving any financial barrier that keeps them from getting a new job or career which will be an added bonus for the Fellows.”

According to Brad Richardson, CEO of the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce, one of Where Opportunity Knox’s managing partners, “As we wrap up the efforts of Where Opportunity Knox after its planned three-year life cycle, we are delighted to partner with USA Cares to continue this important regional workforce development program and further its impact in the future. Through this Fellowship program, our clients have had the opportunity to explore available job opportunities in a hands-on way, and participating employers have had the opportunity to showcase their companies to some outstanding Veteran talent which we consider a “win-win.” We are confident that USA Cares will do an excellent job managing and growing this program going forward.”

For more information about the Senior Leaders Corporate Fellowship Program for 2019, contact Trace Chesser, Director of Career Transition at USA Cares, at trace@usacares.org.

About USA Cares

USA Cares is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that addresses the critical and unmet needs of post-9/11 service members and their families by providing them with immediate financial and advocacy support in times of crisis. The non-profit organization strives to reach families at the earliest stage of intervention to prevent further financial distress and suffering. USA Cares has responded to over 106,811 requests for emergency financial help with millions of dollars in granted assistance. USA Cares Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) number is 12359. To donate or to request assistance, please visit www.usacares.org.

ARTICLE
Date	ArticleType
1/8/2019	Member News
USA Cares Adopts Senior Leaders Corporate Fellowship Program as Where Opportunity Knox Wraps Up Successful Three-Year Program

USA Cares Adopts Senior Leaders Corporate Fellowship Program as Where Opportunity Knox Wraps Up Successful Three-Year Program Where Opportunity Knox, a regional initiative to connect transitioning Veterans and/or military spouses to jobs and careers, announced today that its Senior Leaders Corporate Fellowship Program has been adopted and will be managed and implemented in the future by USA Cares, a national nonprofit organization supporting military families in crisis. Over the last two years, the Senior Leaders Corporate Fellowship Program has become Where Opportunity Knox’s signature initiative. The Fellowship provides individuals in transition from military to civilian careers the opportunity to spend 8 weeks working at an area company. The Fellows work at their host company Tuesday through Friday where they work on projects, shadow business leaders and experience the civilian workplace. They have development courses on Mondays at Fort Knox to learn about resume writing, interview skills, using social media in a job search, etc. Since the start of the program more than 90% of the Fellows have accepted jobs in the region, most with their host company, including GE Appliances, Amazon, Beam Suntory, Brown-Forman, TARC, Trilogy Health Services and UPS. USA Cares’ goal is to help restore financial stability and self-sufficiency to post-9/11 veterans and military families by giving them “a hand up.” The organization strives to reach families at the earliest stage of intervention to prevent further financial distress and suffering, especially for the combat injured and their families. In 2018, they broadened their scope to include assisting transitioning individuals and Veterans with finding their civilian careers. “By adopting the successful Senior Leaders Corporate Fellows Program from Where Opportunity Knox, we hope to leverage the great work to date and continue to grow the program and its impact,” said Hank Patton, President and CEO of USA Cares. “It is a great fit for our organization as our existing Career Transition program provides individuals with tools and resources to better prepare them for the hiring process, and refers qualified candidates to corporate organizations with open positions of employment specific to their skillsets. Additionally, our program helps pay an individual’s essential expenses while they train for a new job, relieving any financial barrier that keeps them from getting a new job or career which will be an added bonus for the Fellows.” According to Brad Richardson, CEO of the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce, one of Where Opportunity Knox’s managing partners, “As we wrap up the efforts of Where Opportunity Knox after its planned three-year life cycle, we are delighted to partner with USA Cares to continue this important regional workforce development program and further its impact in the future. Through this Fellowship program, our clients have had the opportunity to explore available job opportunities in a hands-on way, and participating employers have had the opportunity to showcase their companies to some outstanding Veteran talent which we consider a “win-win.” We are confident that USA Cares will do an excellent job managing and growing this program going forward.” For more information about the Senior Leaders Corporate Fellowship Program for 2019, contact Trace Chesser, Director of Career Transition at USA Cares, at trace@usacares.org. About USA Cares USA Cares is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that addresses the critical and unmet needs of post-9/11 service members and their families by providing them with immediate financial and advocacy support in times of crisis. The non-profit organization strives to reach families at the earliest stage of intervention to prevent further financial distress and suffering. USA Cares has responded to over 106,811 requests for emergency financial help with millions of dollars in granted assistance. USA Cares Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) number is 12359. To donate or to request assistance, please visit www.usacares.org.

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