The Provident Bank Foundation (PBF) has announced Employment Horizons (EH) in Cedar Knolls, N.J. as the recipient of the Foundation’s $50,000 Signature Grant for 2017 in the Community Enrichment funding priority area. The Foundation will present the check during a presentation on Friday, May 12^th, 2017 at 10 a.m. at Employment Horizons, located at 10 Ridgedale Avenue.

Employment Horizons was selected to receive this Signature Grant for its work in the Community and Economic Development-Employment focus area. Funding will assist in the start-up of a Certified Home Health Aide (CHHA) Training and Job Placement Program for individuals with barriers to employment. The program will include additional, related training to make trainees more competitive in the industry. Customized supports will enhance completion rates and employment success.

Those present at Friday’s check presentation will include Chris Martin, PBF President and Chairman, and CEO and President Provident Bank, Jane Kurek, Executive Director, PBF, as well as EH Executive Director Matthew Putts, and Assistant Executive Director Jacky Burns, among others.

“This grant is dedicated to addressing the skills gap by providing training and comprehensive supportive services for individuals facing challenges in the labor force, which is why Employment Horizons was selected as this year’s recipient,” said Jane Kurek, Executive Director, The Provident Bank Foundation. “Through their new program, individuals will receive their HHA certification, and be positioned on a career path that exposes them to further training, education, and increased income opportunities. Employment Horizons is not only addressing the unemployment issue, but enhancing the quality of life of members in their community.”

The program will be a unique public-private partnership involving Employment Horizons, referrals through the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (LWD), and Assisting Hands, an award-winning home healthcare agency.

This unique "one-stop" format will co-locate all services at Employment Horizons, rather than at various agencies using different staffs at different locations across the community. Each program cycle will be five weeks front-loaded with the specific CHHA training, followed by other related training, job search skills, job placement and job retention supports.

"With investment from the Provident Bank Foundation, and in partnership with Assisting Hands Home Care, Employment Horizons is excited to begin providing CHHA training to individuals with barriers to employment,” said Matthew Putts, Executive Director of Employment Horizons. “We look forward to not only improving employment opportunities and economic participation for those trained through the new program but also in meeting a growing need of local employers for CHHA credentialed staff. Furthermore, we are privileged to help address a community need for families looking to find qualified providers of home care for their loved ones.”

Employment Horizons, formerly known as the Occupational Training Center of Morris County, was founded in Morristown in 1957 by a group of forward-thinking parents who wanted to expand work and personal growth opportunities for their children with disabilities and special needs. Over the years, Employment Horizons has implemented innovative programs to meet the needs and choices of the people with disabilities served. They provide job training and placement services to people with disabilities in the greater Morris County, NJ area.

For more information on PBF, visit www.theprovidentbankfoundation.org or call (862) 260-3990.

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About The Provident Bank Foundation

The Provident Bank Foundation was established in 2003 by Provident Bank to enhance the quality of life in the region through support of not-for-profit groups, institutions, schools and other 501(c)(3) organizations that provide services in communities served by the Bank. Since inception, the Foundation has granted more than $22 million to not-for-profit organizations and institutions working toward stronger communities. For more information about The Provident Bank Foundation, visit www.theprovidentbankfoundation.org or call (862) 260-3990.