Foundation Dedicated to Regional Workforce & Community Development
SACRAMENTO, CA – Committed to building our region’s future workforce, the Sacramento Metro Chamber announces the Metro Chamber Foundation to house long-standing Chamber programs and launch additional efforts dedicated to community improvement.
The Metro Chamber Foundation will focus on fostering economic and community development through the promotion of young professionals, emerging leaders, and philanthropy. Two Metro Chamber programs Metro EDGE and Leadership Sacramento – each designed to bridge education and workforce gaps for emerging leaders and young professionals – will move under the Foundation. Additionally, the Foundation will administer Inspire Giving, a collective giving model, held as an endowment at the Sacramento Region Community Foundation with an annual grant-making effort. Together, these three programs help young professionals connect, embrace employees who lead and encourage professionals and businesses to give back and serve the communities they call home.
“The Metro Chamber Foundation’s focus is to scale workforce development opportunities in the region and to take on community improvement issues important to the business community,” said Holly Harper, Sutter Health and Board Chair Metro Chamber Foundation.
In June, the Foundation successfully held its first fundraising Golf Tournament and was awarded the “Workforce Accelerator 3.0” grant from the California Workforce Development Board to establish a leadership and workforce development program dedicated to advancing youth opportunities and reducing youth unemployment. Through the grant, the Foundation will pilot a mentoring program between the Board of Directors for the Sacramento Metro Chamber, Leadership Sacramento and Metro EDGE. The ultimate goal is to create the opportunity to scale the program as a replicable model to be shared across the state between other regional chambers of commerce and tailored to the needs of each region.
“The Metro Chamber understands the important role the business community must play in prioritizing attracting and cultivating tomorrow’s leaders,” said Talia Shani Kaufman, Executive Director, Metro Chamber Foundation. “Investing in young people not only helps employers engage with their community, but it directly supports long-term productivity and competitiveness in our growing economy.”
For more information on the Metro Chamber Foundation, visit the Metro Chamber website.
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2016 Board of Directors
Holly Harper, Sutter Health & Metro Chamber Foundation Board Chair
Christine Calvin, Crocker Art Museum
Kasey Cotulla, River City Printers
Steve Johns, SMUD
Sean O’Brien, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
Allison Otto, Otto Construction
Michael Smith, Teichert
David Sobon, David Sobon Auctions
Peter Tateishi, Sacramento Metro Chamber
Phil Tretheway, Position Interactive
Rachel Zillner, SAFE Credit Union
