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Program Center


Signature Employment Grant

Kessler Foundation's Signature Employment Grant Program seeks to find solutions towards increasing training, education, and employment opportunities that help people with disabilities lead independent lives.

People with disabilities represent one of the largest minority groups seeking employment in today's marketplace and are a source of talent for employers facing a project shortage of workers at all skill levels. Our "Transition to Work" Signature Employment Grant Program seeks to find solutions that increase employment and career advancement for individuals with mobility and/or cognitive impairment primarily from neurological disorders. Kessler Foundation is committed to identifying, initiating and funding allocations through a proposal process or through Foundation initiated projects. (How to Apply)


2008 SIGNATURE EMPLOYMENT GRANTS Listing

  • Allies Inc., (Hamilton, NJ) - To create the "Career Gateway", a collaborative effort between Allies and four New Jersey Centers for Independent Living (CIL) based in northern, southern and central New Jersey aimed at providing an employment program for at least 60 high school graduates with disabilities during the time between completing high school and seeking adult employment services: $437,076.
  • Bergen Community College, (Paramus, NJ) - To create the MOSAIC Center for Disability Employment for the tri-county Bergen-Hudson-Passaic region to (1) increase employment and career advancement opportunities for people dealing with disabilities and (2) increase private and public sector employer access to the economic and competitive advantages gained through employment of this special workforce: $500,000.
  • Hudson Community Enterprises, (Jersey City, NJ) - To develop a social enterprise business in digital mail services (Metro MMS) that will create employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities in Hudson, Bergen, Essex and Passaic Counties: $386,011.
  • Meadowlink, (Rutherford, NJ) - To establish a single clearing house for transportation information in Paterson that incorporates the needs of the disabled population and provides integrated transportation services for 50 clients daily to access jobs primarily at Riverdale in Morris County and the Meadowlands in Bergen/Hudson County: $385,000.
  • National Organization on Disability, (Washington, DC) -To continue NEP's current programs, including Army Wounded Warrior (AW2) Careers, Start on Success (SOS) and Building Bridges: $420,000.
  • The Washington Center for Internships & Academic Seminars, (Washington, DC) -To provide scholarships and program support for eleven students from New Jersey to attend the Public Service Internship Program for College Students with Disabilities, helping them gain work experience to transition into the workforce: $107,445.