Fifth Third Bank, MVI Join Forces for Employment Program

Fifth Third Bank, Western Pennsylvania has made a $20,000 donation to Mon Valley Initiative and its Workforce and Business Development program to assist Mon Valley residents in gaining employment as a primary step toward individual self-sufficiency.

The donation will help MVI assist individuals overcome barriers and gain the skills and contacts necessary to find employment. MVI provides direct services to clients through basic career counseling and case management, both pre- and post-employment. The ultimate goal is not simply placement but also job retention. 

Fifth Third Bank has identified assistance to the unemployed as an important investment, particularly for those living in the economically-distressed communities of the Mon Valley, including Swissvale, Rankin, Braddock, North Braddock, East Pittsburgh and Turtle Creek.

Fifth Third is partnering with MVI because of the strong desire and capacity of both organizations to improve communities. 

“We are excited about this partnership to allow individuals access to resources and information to continually improve their lives and the wellbeing of the community,” said Julie Hughes, the bank's market president.

“Fifth Third Bank has a long-standing history of philanthropic giving as the first financial institution to establish a corporate foundation in 1948. We are committed to supporting the neighborhoods we serve and MVI’s Workforce Development Program addresses a critical need in the community.”

MVI is a grass-roots, nonprofit, coalition made up of 10 community development corporations. These groups of neighbors, representing 12 municipalities, came together in an attempt to deal with the loss of jobs, people, and tax base after the closing of the major steel mills and related industries in the region. 

MVI is organized into four team areas to best carry out its mission of “working together to unite the communities and restore the economic vitality of the Mon Valley.” These team areas include Housing and Real Estate Development, Housing Counseling, Workforce & Business Development and Community Outreach. 

MVI has identified these four program areas as points in which it can fill gaps and leverage additional resources and partnerships to provide significant impact for improving its member communities.

Fifth Third Bank and MVI have partnered on several community projects over the past few years, including hosting the Financial Empowerment Mobile, or eBus mobile classroom, and most recently participating on a project that will create 24 new apartments in MVI's member community of Braddock.

For more information or to enroll in Mon Valley Initiative’s Workforce Development program, call MVI’s director of community outreach Jo Ellen Welsh at 412-464-4000, ext. 4023.

______________________

"Like" Patch on Facebook. | Follow us on Twitter. | Sign up for our daily email newsletter.