Economic stimulus aids workers to acquire skills for today’s economy

Boston – The Boston Foundation salutes the leadership of House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi and other members of the State House leadership who today submitted legislation that will strengthen the regional economy by providing training to teach workers the skills they will need to succeed in a 21st Century economy.

“Research has shown that over one million Massachusetts workers lack the skills needed to thrive in today’s economy,” said Paul Grogan, President and CEO of the Boston Foundation. “Addressing this shortfall is a key priority of the Boston Foundation and our local and national partners.

The legislation sent to the House today is rooted in SkillWorks, a partnership convened and funded by the Boston Foundation with support from the City of Boston, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Bank of America Private Bank, the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, the Hyams Foundation, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the John Merck Fund, the Rockefeller Foundation, the State Street Foundation and the United Way of Massachusetts Bay.

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The Boston Foundation, one of the nation’s oldest and largest community foundations, has an endowment of almost $675 million. In 2004, the Foundation made $51 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, and received gifts of $41 million. The Boston Foundation is made up of 750 separate charitable funds, which have been established by donors either for the general benefit of the community or for special purposes. The Boston Foundation also serves as a civic leader, convener, and sponsor of special initiatives designed to build community. For more information about the Boston Foundation and its grant making, visit www.tbf.org , or call 617-338-3890.