ABSTRACT
Corporations represent an untapped treasury that is only just beginning to fill a mentorship gap in American schools and community colleges. Too many students are left outside of productive work life, and too many employers are searching for qualified workers they can hire and retain. An alarming four out of five identified their top concern as a need to better align the education system with business needs. Microsoft's $50 million, five-year initiative included financial and product contributions, along with employee volunteers who visited the schools to assess needs, help with curriculum development, and create faculty development institutes. The first big reason is to serve the company's own long-term interests by adding to the pool of employable young people who possess the skills and attitudes that will make them a productive part of the workforce. Benefits emerge for mentors, mentees, and corporations. The benefits to the company have been vast, and include: Engagement with the community, goodwill, community building and connection.
