The O.L. Halsell Foundation Connects Orange County Youth To Healthcare Careers

Hope Builders is grateful to the O.L. Halsell Foundation for its recent grant supporting the pathways to healthcare careers for young adults who are disconnected from the workforce. This investment is opening doors to living-wage careers with advancement opportunities, helping young people secure stable employment, remain in the workforce longer, and build lasting economic independence. Through this support, Hope Builders is strengthening a sustainable pipeline of workforce-ready graduates in Child Development and Clinical Medical Assisting—careers that are critical to our community’s health and well-being.

The O.L. Halsell Foundation’s generosity is already making a meaningful difference for trainees like Lily. At age 22, Lily knew she wanted a career working with children, but without higher education, she struggled to find a job aligned with her passion. She cycled through minimum-wage positions and often went without basic necessities, unable to fully support herself. After enrolling in Hope Builders’ Child Development Careers training, Lily found the mentorship, hands-on instruction, and support she needed to pursue the future she envisioned. Upon completing the program, Hope Builders’ social enterprise staffing agency, HBCC, connected Lily to United Behavior Consultants, where she was hired as a behavioral technician earning $22 an hour. “My experience at Hope Builders has truly been life-changing,” Lily shares. “Thank you for helping me move closer to my dreams.”

Through its partnership with Hope Builders, the O.L. Halsell Foundation is helping young adults like Lily transform their lives while building a stronger, more resilient workforce for our community.