Did you know that the employment population ratio for people with disabilities increased by 1.2 percentage points to 22.5% last year? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this ratio for employment for people with disabilities is the highest recorded since comparable data points were first collected in 2008. It’s good news, but there’s still more work to be done.
At Life’sWork of Western PA, our mission is to empower people—those with disabilities, individuals with other barriers to employment, young adults and children—to pursue their hopes and dreams through strengthening workplace abilities, building life skills, and developing meaningful relationships. For 97 years, we have served countless individuals in their quest for employment, and we’re not stopping now! We are constantly evolving and growing to best meet the needs of those with employment barriers in Western Pennsylvania.
If you recently attended our annual gala, you may have heard about some of the exciting opportunities Life’sWork has provided this year. Opportunities like extending a contract with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of Drug & Alcohol Programs to support employment for individuals recovering from substance use disorder. Perhaps you know that we have been adding businesses to our existing partnerships and sending Life’sWork students back to a summer youth program developed in conjunction with The Education Partnership. And we really hope you didn’t miss the new Vocational Skills Development Lab we unveiled this year. This one-of-a-kind lab highlights our commitment to helping our clients learn, grow, and thrive.
When we can learn new skills, we open doors to independence and meaningful employment. Through Life’sWork programs and opportunities, like our new Vocational Skills Development Lab, clients grow by participating in the person-centered programs in which they are placed. By learning and growing, our clients achieve our ultimate goal for them: graduation from our programs, attaining independent employment that allows them to thrive in their community.
As exciting as it is to think about the possibilities for our clients and our community, Life’sWork cannot do it alone. We need partners like you to help us realize our vision of a more inclusive community where all individuals can succeed. This year, we have set a fundraising goal of $15,000 to ensure that we are meeting our mission to help all our clients learn, grow, and thrive. With your generous support, we can achieve, and even surpass, this goal and make a positive impact on those in our community with barriers to employment.
We invite you to join us online on Tuesday, December 3rd, for the Life’sWork ninth annual Giving Tuesday. Consider donating to our annual Giving Tuesday campaign. It’s easy. Just find us on social media or go to our website and make a donation. You can add in the notes there that your contribution is for Giving Tuesday. Help us transform lives.
We are so excited about what we can collectively accomplish toward ensuring that anyone who wants meaningful employment has the resources they need to make that dream come true!
For more information on Giving Tuesday, the new Vocational Skill Development Lab, or volunteer opportunities at Life’sWork, our chief development officer, Babs Sefiane, would love to chat with you. Reach out to her at bsefiane@lifesworkwpa.org or call her at (412) 471-2600 ext. 261.
