Innovative partnerships between companies and nonprofit organizations are needed to invest in California's ability to compete in the global economy, particularly in areas like STEM education and job training.
As California's largest company, Chevron has established the California Partnership to provide additional resources for education and economic development, particularly in the state's underserved communities.
Chevron is working with a host of innovative nonprofits with proven track records to deliver these much needed services. The positive impact of Chevron's California Partnership is already being felt in classrooms and small businesses throughout the state.
One partner is Project Lead the Way. With Chevron's contributions, the group is expanding existing high school programs in California to help prepare the state's next-generation workforce.
The California Partnership is also supporting Kiva.org, the world's first personal micro-lending website to help budding entrepreneurs lift themselves out of poverty.
As Kiva.org's lead corporate expansion partner, Chevron's grant enabled Kiva.org to launch its platform in California and will help make much needed investments in engineering and microfinance partnerships to reach its goal of 400,000 total borrowers by the end of 2010.
"California small businesses and entrepreneurs are facing unprecedented difficulty in obtaining necessary business funding in this economic slowdown," said Premal Shah, president of Kiva.org. "Chevron's support through the California Partnership will help Kiva.org continue to spur growth in small businesses."
Other nonprofits supported through the California Partnership include Teach for America, which Chevron is supporting by providing additional resources in lower-performing Oakland and Richmond schools, and WE Invest, which provides tools and resources that help women become more financially self-sufficient.
A complete list of California Partnership nonprofit organizations and information on Chevron's contributions are available here.