AUGUSTA, Ga. – Jan. 21, 2020 – The Regions Foundation, a nonprofit initiative of Regions Bank supporting a wide range of community investments, on Wednesday announced a donation of $150,000 to Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) – a nonprofit dedicated to building lives, families and communities one career at a time through education, work and career services.
The Regions Foundation’s commitment will provide scholarship opportunities for 200 people to take classes through Helms Career Education and Helms College. Helms College is a private, independent postsecondary career school sponsored by Goodwill of Middle Georgia. Named in honor of Rev. Edgar Helms, the founder of Goodwill Industries, Helms College provides opportunities for students to discover their strengths and build upon their knowledge, skills and attitudes through extensive integrative and experiential learning.
Helms Career Education offers industry-certified stackable credentials, and Helms College offers accredited diploma and degree programs providing skills training in multiple career fields. Helms College is the only accredited federal financial aid eligible college in the nation operated by an autonomous Goodwill organization.
Marta Self, Executive Director of the Regions Foundation, is proud of the workforce readiness investment. “Helms College is a place where world-class faculty help people discover their abilities and gain access to opportunities they otherwise would not have.”
“Regions Foundation and Regions Bank have a long history of making meaningful differences in the lives of others by supporting people in the communities we call home,” said Russell Morgan, Augusta Market Executive for Regions Bank. “The result of this donation is more people in the CSRA will have the access they need to valuable training and rewarding careers. Through the Regions Foundation’s work with organizations like Goodwill and Helms College, we can help ensure that, as our region grows, more of our neighbors have the opportunity to succeed and thrive.”
Throughout the Southeast, Midwest and Texas, the Regions Foundation invests in three key priorities:
- Economic and Community Development
- Education and Workforce Readiness
- Financial Wellness
Marta Self, Executive Director of the Regions Foundation, said the Goodwill Industries donation is a natural extension of the Foundation’s initiatives.
“We are consistently focused on helping people overcome challenges and build a foundation for long-term success,” Self said. “Helms College is a place where world-class faculty help people discover their abilities and gain access to opportunities they otherwise would not have. The school is one of many ways Goodwill is making a measurable, long-term difference for people across the CSRA, and we are proud to make this investment.”
This donation will open new doors of possibility and lift so many lives in our community.
James Stiff, President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA
“We are thrilled with the support of the Regions Foundation to bring help and hope to people in the Augusta area who are working to secure new opportunities and, in many cases, break a cycle of poverty,” said James Stiff, President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA. “Many Helms Career Education and Helms College graduates receive multiple job offers. They often have their pick of opportunities because of their ability to demonstrate and apply skills employers seek. This donation will open new doors of possibility and lift so many lives in our community.”
Stiff said a report released last year by the Southern Regional Education Board affirmed the value of Helms College’s model of providing a solid knowledge base with experiential learning opportunities to equip students to fill an increasing number of middle-skill jobs.
“The National Skills Coalition says the shortage of qualified people to fill certain jobs in growing industries is the greatest emerging threat to the economies of the Southern states,” said Stiff. “Helms College is graduating students that are well prepared to fill these high-demand vacancies. In fact, with more than 1,000 graduates since 2011, Helms College just welcomed its largest incoming class ever. With the financial support from the Regions Foundation, we can further grow our outreach efforts and prepare more students with more job opportunities.”
About Regions Foundation
Regions Foundation supports community investments that positively impact the communities served by Regions Bank. The Foundation engages in a grantmaking program focused on priorities including economic and community development; education and workforce readiness; and financial wellness. The Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation funded primarily through contributions from Regions Bank.
About Regions Financial Corporation
Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE:RF), with $126 billion in assets, is a member of the S&P 500 Index and is one of the nation’s largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, wealth management, and mortgage products and services. Regions serves customers across the South, Midwest and Texas, and through its subsidiary, Regions Bank, operates approximately 1,400 banking offices and 2,000 ATMs. Regions Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. Additional information about Regions and its full line of products and services can be found at www.regions.com.
About Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA
Goodwill industries of Middle Georgia, a non-profit 501(c)3 charity, builds lives, families and communities one career at a time by helping people develop their God-given gifts through education, work and career services. More than 86 cents of every dollar of Goodwill revenue underwrites job training and placement services within the agency’s 35-county service delivery area. Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA is accountable to a local Board of Directors, belongs to this community and is not owned by any individual or company.