‘Breaking Barriers’ Grants To Help Hurdle Obstacles to Employment

photo by: Shelley Hanson

The House of Hagar’s Uplift OV Program receives a $20,000 grant from the Breaking Barriers for a Better Community fund. From left are Rob Sincavich, president of Breaking Barriers for a Better Community; Kate Marshall, facilitator at the House of Hagar; Ryan Adams of House of Hagar; and Chris Bucon, a member of Breaking Barriers for a Better Community.

The Breaking Barriers for a Better Community fund awarded two $20,000 grants to local groups that help people improve their lives with job training, support and more.

The BBBC fund, administered by the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley, gave $20,000 to the House of the Hagar’s Uplift OV Program and Goodwill Industries pre-employment program for youth during a press event held Monday at the foundation office in Wheeling.

Rob Sincavich, president of Breaking Barriers for a Better Community, said BBBC started about five years ago by a group of like-minded businessmen wanting to make a difference in the community regarding people seeking employment.

“We recognized there are people who are challenged with various hurdles and obstacles. … We formed this group with the mission of working with charitable organizations that remove those barriers,” he said.

Kate Marshall, facilitator at the House of Hagar, said her organization was grateful for receiving the grant from the group. This is the second time House of Hagar received this grant.

“It has allowed us to address a lot of barriers to employment,” she said.

For example, the program helps people obtain the documents needed to get their IDs. It also helps people write their resumes, purchase phones so they can take calls from potential employers, purchase clothing for interviews and for work days and more.

“And once you get a job, you might not have the funds for that first week to cover your transportation or your food needed or meals until you get that first paycheck, which is often three weeks later,” Marshall said.

She noted those who have secured employment still may need additional help down the road with “minor crises” like fixing a flat tire on their vehicle.

Marshall said the grant money has also been used to help her clients get additional training or education to help further their careers.

“We’ve seen on a weekly basis people being able to realize dreams and go places they never thought were possible because of this grant, and the work you all have done to make this possible for a lot of people in the Ohio Valley,” she said.

Thomas Bigham, administrator for Goodwill Industries, said Goodwill’s pre-employment program is aimed at helping disadvantaged teenagers who need help with gaining and keeping employment. He thanked the group for the grant, which he said helps them change lives.

Suzie Dupke of Goodwill Industries said the program teaches the youth how to get a job and how to act once they begin working.

“These are kids who are walking the hallways with their hoods up. Some of them are straight-A students,” Dupke said, adding many students do not receive guidance or support from home. “We end up being their family. We light a fire under them. … What you’ve done for us is that we’re reaching these teens a little bit at a time. We are creating a future for them.”

Audrey Cochran of Goodwill Industries takes the teens to job shadowing opportunities to see what kind of job they may like to try. They have also done college visits.

“I’m like a work-mom. I’m keeping them motivated,” she said.

Susie Nelson, executive director of the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley, thanked the groups for their work and the Breaking Barriers for a Better Community for helping make it possible with their grants.