Sisters of Mercy of North Carolina Foundation awards $50,000 to Goodwill

Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina has received a $50,000 grant from the Sisters of Mercy of North Carolina Foundation to support the OneLife Youth Program, which operates from Goodwill's Asheville Workforce Development Center.

OneLife serves youth ages 14-21 in the Asheville/Buncombe County area. Participating youth receive the career planning, financial literacy, real-life preparation, coaching, tutoring, workplace mentoring and job placement services necessary to graduate from high school and successfully chart a future career. OneLife reaches students at Enka, Erwin, North Buncombe and Owen high schools.

The grant will fund the annual cost of a full-time staff person to work with OneLife, allowing Goodwill to provide additional support to the expanding program. Last year the program served 24 students. Because of the grant, Goodwill has now enrolled 55 students total in OneLife. Of that group, 12 students who demonstrate leadership potential will be selected to join the program’s Teen Leadership Academy, an intensive training in leading others and acting as positive role models for their peers.

“OneLife, reaches high school students who are ‘flying under the radar,’ helping them explore potential careers through internships and leadership opportunities,” says Joshua Pierce, Goodwill’s director of workforce development. “This grant will allow us to positively impact even more of these youth, preparing them for college and greater success in life. We are tremendously grateful to the Sisters of Mercy of North Carolina Foundation for their support.”

About the Sisters of Mercy of North Carolina Foundation:

The Sisters of Mercy of North Carolina Foundation, Inc. operates exclusively for the benefit and support of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas South Central Community and assists it in furthering its charitable, religious and educational mission. The Foundation is managed in accordance with the teachings and traditions of the Roman Catholic Church and the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. Animated by the Gospel and Catherine McAuley's passion for those who are poor, the Foundation seeks to promote systemic change and assist individuals to empower themselves, especially women, children and those who are elderly, to improve the quality of their lives.