2021: Year in Review

Thank you—the Hope Builders’ community has helped moved 175 disadvantaged young adults from poverty to prosperity.

Together—investors, employers, trainees and staff—achieved the following over the past year:

• 175 young adults received the mentorship, life skills and job skills training to launch their careers
• 99% of graduates were connected to careers
• The average starting salary is $17.98/hour
• 80% remain employed, effectively meeting the needs of local employers

A true workforce WIN-WIN for Orange County young adults and employers!

Mariah is one of the young adults whose lives was transformed at Hope Builders this past year. At 19, she came to Hope Builders eager to launch her career. After graduating high school, she began working part-time at a local Subway restaurant . She wanted to help her single mom and three younger siblings with bills. The COVID pandemic spurred her to take the leap into healthcare after learning about the program from her boyfriend, who recently completed Hope Builders’ construction training program. Mariah recalls, “As soon as I started the program, I knew it was not going to be easy… I had to learn how to balance school along with homework, tests, and many other things.”

She exhibited one of the flagship traits of a successful Hope Builder—resilience—and persevered. “Hope Builders helped me grow to better myself and I now know I have what it takes to be a great medical assistant.”

Mariah is grateful to you and the Hope Builders’ community for helping her launch her career. Mariah’s skills and attitude have impressed her supervisors at a MemorialCare clinic, where she is completing her 160-hour practicum, the final step of Hope Builders’ training program, that they have already offered her a dream job, beginning in the new year. She will be earning more than $36,000 annually!