State Farm Provides Grant for Supported Employment

MERCY HAVEN, INC. RECEIVES GRANT FROM STATE FARM FOR SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM

NEWS: On Tuesday, March 3, Mercy Haven received a $16,000 Good Neighbor Citizenship Grant from State Farm for its Supported Employment Program. Mercy Haven’s Supported Employment program provides vocational training and employment opportunities for formerly homeless, low-income residents.

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Mercy Haven received a generous grant of $16,000 from State Farm through its Good Neighbor Citizenship grant program. The grant will provide funding for the expansion of Mercy Haven’s Supported Employment program which will provide vocational training and employment opportunities for formerly homeless, low-income residents.

“Our mission speaks of the dignity and potential of all persons, regardless of economic status or a diagnosis of a mental illness,” said Executive Director, Sister Pat Griffith. “Our Supported Employment Program will provide opportunities for our residents to develop skills that help them gain employment, build their self-esteem and self-sufficiency, and realize their potential.” Important aspects of the program include job readiness education, vocational training, peer-to-peer mentoring, and financial literacy workshops. “We couldn’t provide these opportunities without wonderful partners like State Farm,” said Sister Pat.

Each year State Farm awards grants to local organizations that help to build safer, stronger and better educated communities. The company grants focus on safety and education. “Mercy Haven’s employment program fits in to the State Farm goal of creating better educated communities,” said Naomi Johnson, New York Community Specialist, State Farm. “Our focus is on job training, financial literacy and basic economics, especially for underserved communities, all components of Mercy Haven’s program.”

The program will commence in May with a recruitment effort and officially kick-off in June.