Oakbrook Terrace, Ill., February 17, 2009 — The CompTIA Educational Foundation received a $210,000 grant from Major League Baseball and the McCormick Foundation to expand its Creating Futures’ outreach to disabled veterans.

The Foundation’s Creating Futures program provides free training and certification opportunities to populations who have historically been under-represented in the info technology (IT) workforce, including U.S. veterans, individuals with disabilities, women, minorities, at-risk youth and dislocated workers. Creating Futures works directly with employers to identify their hiring needs, next tailors its training to help individuals obtain the skills employers require.

The grant is part of Major League Baseball and the McCormick Foundation’s Welcome Back Veterans program, a national public awareness and fundraising initiative that addresses the mental health and employment needs of America’s returning war veterans and their families. Created by New York Mets Chairman and CEO Fred Wilpon and private citizens, Welcome Back Veterans is supported by Major League Baseball, Major League Baseball Advanced Media and the McCormick Foundation.

“With that generous grant, Creating Futures can help more disabled veterans become employed in the IT industry,” said John Venator, president and chief executive officer, CompTIA Educational Foundation. “Our Armed Forces help prepare these courageous men and women to handle any situation. Now with IT training and certification provided by Creating Futures, veterans can become incredibly valuable employees for the government and private technology sectors.”

Veterans can apply for training online at www.comptiaeduationalfoundation.org. All candidate applications are screened before selected for the program. Training, mentoring, courseware, practice exams, and certification vouchers are provided at no cost. Program participants train toward CompTIA certifications — which are known all through the IT industry as dependable predictors of employee success and are therefore the best way to break into the IT field and build a solid career.

Creating Futures participants communicate directly with Foundation…

[Source] dhiram