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Philadelphia Youth Network Receives $100,000 Grant

by Paul Kurtz

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Philadelphia Youth Network is celebrating after receiving a sizable grant from Wells Fargo.

The grant is part of a Wells Fargo's LIFT program which helps eligible homeowners with down payments.

Philadelphia Youth Network CEO Chekemma Fulmore-Townsend was beaming as she considered the possible benefits from the $100,000 grant.

She says a big chunk of the funding will go toward helping dozens of underprivileged, highly motivated teens involved in the Networks WorkReady Program.

"That might mean to pay wages for young people, or to support the infrastructure costs that are associated with work experiences. Some of the funds will also be used to create some new innovative programming by helping us build out our infrastructure and sort of expand our capacity to serve," said Fulmore-Townsend.

One of the youngsters who's already reaped the benefits of Work Ready is String Theory High School's Nasir Mack.

The 17 year old senior has done the 9-5 adult grind at a number of businesses, including Comcast and Community College of Philadelphia.

"Having these internships has taught me the importance of professionalism and how to have an amazing work ethic," said Mack.

And Nasir says those experiences should help greatly when he enters Fordham University next fall.

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