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Nonprofits

Phoenix group gets $300K grant to focus on student, career success

Posted 5/20/25

A job and career readiness organization is getting a $300,000 grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons foundation to step up its mentorship and job placement programs for high school students.

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Nonprofits

Phoenix group gets $300K grant to focus on student, career success

Posted

A job and career readiness organization is getting a $300,000 grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons foundation to step up its mentorship and job placement programs for high school students.

Phoenix-based Jobs for Arizona’s Graduates will get the grant over three years. Officials said it comes as Arizona faces challenges in graduation rates, and workforce development opportunities.

“Every student deserves the opportunity to gain the skills, knowledge, and experience they need to succeed after graduation. This grant will help us make that a reality for students by creating new pathways to post-secondary education and career success,” said Marjorie DeRubeis, president and CEO of Jobs for Arizona’s Graduates, in a press release.

The organization says its track record features a 99% graduation rate for participants, with 80% of graduates successfully securing employment or enrolling in post-secondary education. The organization works through one-on-one mentorships and community partnerships with an aim of reaching 1,800 students annually.

“JAG’s programs prove that students can make it successfully to graduation with the proper support,” said Renee Parsons, co-founder of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, in a press release. “The valuable mentorship, skills training, and meaningful exposure to employment opportunities that JAG provides gets these kids that much closer to their educational and career dreams.”

Recent data from the Arizona Department of Education finds students in rural and underserved communities often face barriers to education and career development that their peers in urban areas do not, which JAG can help to bridge those gaps.

The foundation was formed by the former GoDaddy founder and his wife as a way to give back to the community.

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