A record 8,300 youths were offered jobs this summer through the Baltimore City YouthWorks program. The program provides teens with productive employment in an effort to help keep them off the streets. The Baltimore Business Journal reports:

“A summer job can be an incredibly valuable experience that lasts a lifetime,” said Patrick McCarthy, CEO of Annie E. Casey Foundation. “We are proud to support this effort that is giving a record number of youth an opportunity to get a taste of the workforce, earn a paycheck and possibly learn a thing or two about personal finances – all of which are important to have on the path to adulthood.”

The companies and nonprofits that committed to donate at least $15,000 to YouthWorks and or directly hire at least 10 participants are: the Johns Hopkins Health System and Johns Hopkins University; Sagamore Development Co. LLC; the Bank of America Charitable Foundation; Baltimore Gas and Electric Co.; Motorola; Martin’s Caterers; MedStar Health; University of Maryland Medical Center and University of Maryland Medical System; University of Maryland, Baltimore; Kaiser Permanente; Whiting-Turner Contracting Co. and the T. Rowe Price Foundation Inc.

Baltimore’s young people between 14 and 21 will be working in over 900 workplaces across the region in the fields of health care, finance, energy and law. The city government itself is employing 450 Baltimore young people in various government departments.

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The YouthWorks program operates two five-week cycles, during which participants work a minimum of 25 hours a week and receive at least minimum wage, $9.25 an hour.

For more information:
Baltimore Youth Offered a Record Number of Summer Jobs (The Baltimore Business Journal)