Madison, WI - The Urban League of Greater Madison will be able to more than double the number of participants in its Advance Employment Services program over the next 18 months due in part to a $100,000 grant from the CUNA Mutual Foundation.

The Urban League's Advance Employment Services program provides training, placement and coaching services that help low-income parents and other unemployed and under-employed adults secure and retain career pathway job opportunities. The training includes industry-specific programs that prepare participants for job placement in health-care administration, information technology, customer service, construction trades and other stable and emerging industries.

The two-year CUNA Mutual Foundation grant will also open the door for the Urban League of Greater Madison to leverage additional state, local and private grant opportunities aimed at expanding and enhancing the League's work.

"This grant comes at an important time," says Urban League acting CEO and former Madison Police Chief Noble Wray. "Our Board of Directors has gone through an extensive planning process in the last six months to determine the League's strategic focus for the future in response to reports showing racial disparities in our community that are among the most dramatic in the nation. Coming out of that work, the number one commitment of the Urban League is to bolster our work as the bridge between those seeking work and those seeking workers."  

Steve Goldberg, executive director, CUNA Mutual Foundation, presented the $100,000 grant at the Urban League of Greater Madison's "Urban Cabaret" on Friday night.

"This Urban League program's focus on unemployed and underemployed parents of low-income children, and its success rate in placing trainees, can significantly change the lives of families," Goldberg said. "Giving individuals the tools they need to transform their lives is definitely a worthwhile investment in our community."

About Urban League of Greater Madison
The Urban League of Greater Madison's mission is to ensure that African Americans and other community members are educated, employed and empowered to live well, advance professionally and contribute to the common good in the 21st century. We are working to make this vision a reality through a comprehensive strategic empowerment agenda that includes programs & services, advocacy, and partnerships & coalition building. More information is available at www.ulgm.org

About CUNA Mutual Group
CUNA Mutual Group was founded in 1935 by credit union pioneers, and our commitment to their vision continues today. We offer insurance and protection for credit unions, employees and members; lending solutions and marketing programs; TruStageŽ-branded consumer insurance products; and investment and retirement services to help our customers succeed. More information is available on the company's website at www.cunamutual.com.