TeenWorks Expands Footprint & Programming with $1.7 Million Grant from Glick Philanthropies

INDIANAPOLIS, March 14, 2023 – TeenWorks, an Indianapolis-based education and economic mobility nonprofit, today announced it has received a $1.7 million grant from Glick Philanthropies to empower teens to achieve excellence in community, college, and career. Glick Philanthropies also contributed $500,000 to the TeenWorks Scholarship Fund to support the educational attainment goals of TeenWorks students.

TeenWorks offers high school students paid summer employment and mentoring at nonprofit organizations. During the six-week program, teens also develop self-knowledge and build professional skills, such as financial literacy, resume writing, interviewing, and networking. Upon successful completion of the summer program, teens are eligible to participate in TeenWorks’ Pro Program. Through Pro, teens receive one-to-one career exploration guidance, post-secondary planning support, and professional development opportunities that build on the foundational skills learned over the summer. Teens who complete two summers with TeenWorks or the Pro program are invited to apply for a scholarship, up to $40,000, to apply toward pursuing post-secondary education.

“With the support of Glick Philanthropies, TeenWorks has not only expanded its geographic footprint and number of students served, but also increased the quality of the experience through professional development and wraparound resources,” said Nick Duvall, president & CEO of TeenWorks. “Our goal is not just to provide an enriching summer experience, but to help students achieve better life outcomes too.”

Since 2019, TeenWorks has doubled the number of summer program participants – from 200 in 2019 to more than 400 in 2022 – in Indianapolis, Anderson, and Muncie. In the summer of 2022, teens worked more than 70,000 hours, contributing greatly to the communities they served. This summer, TeenWorks anticipates employing more than 500 teens and expanding to Fort Wayne.

In addition to teen development, TeenWorks also supports their families through the TeenWorks 2Gether program. Team members partner with families to identify goals and needs, such as:

• Education and training to secure a better, higher paying job
• Financial planning and credit repair
• Wealth, asset building, and homeownership
• Family resources and supports around food, housing, health care, childcare, addiction recovery, and more

“My father, Gene Glick, started the program in 1981 that evolved into TeenWorks with a simple idea – to provide teens with a summer job that would teach them the importance of self-discipline, a hard day’s work, and giving back to the community,” said Marianne Glick, board chair of TeenWorks and chair of the Glick Family Foundation, a Glick Philanthropies organization. “I’m so proud of how the organization has grown and developed to meet the needs of today’s teens and empower them to achieve success in their communities, in their higher education pursuits, and in their future careers.”

Applications are currently open for TeenWorks’ 2023 summer program. Interested applicants can apply through Saturday, April 1 at teenworks.org/apply. For more information about Glick Philanthropies, visit glickphilanthropies.org.

About TeenWorks

Formerly known as Pro 100, TeenWorks was created in 1981 by Indiana philanthropist Gene B. Glick from a simple idea of offering teens a summer job. Today, the organization’s summer program engages teens in Anderson, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, and Muncie in a six-week summer work program including professional development sessions on topics such as financial literacy, professional etiquette, and verbal and written communication. After completing the summer program, teens can apply to participate in the year-round Pro program, which provides more individualized work experiences, college tours, networking opportunities, and additional professional development. Teens who participate for two or more years in the program are eligible for a TeenWorks Scholarship through the Central Indiana Community Foundation. To learn more, visit www.teenworks.org.