WAYNE COUNTY, IN. – The Stamm Koechlein Family Foundation has awarded $25,000 to the Chamber Center for Excellence, a charitable organization under the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce. This funding will help nonprofit organizations across Wayne County provide paid internship opportunities for local high school students.

The funding marks an important step forward for the Chamber’s Student Future Success program, which connects high school students with employers throughout Wayne County for meaningful work-based learning experiences.

As Indiana’s high school diploma requirements evolve to place a greater emphasis on work-based learning and other hands-on experiences, the Chamber anticipates continued growth in the number of students seeking internship opportunities. This funding will help ensure that nonprofit organizations can remain an important part of that effort while providing students with paid, real-world experience.

"We are incredibly proud of the impact SKFF has made through our partners over the past 25 years. What better way to celebrate that impact than by creating opportunities for young people as they take their next steps into adulthood. These internships can help students discover their path, gain valuable experience, and build confidence as they prepare for the future. It’s a meaningful way to conclude our work with them as they enter this next chapter of life. We’re grateful to the Chamber’s Center of Excellence for helping make these opportunities possible." Said Monica Koechlein, President of Stamm Koechlein Family Foundation.

Nonprofit organizations participating in the Chamber’s Student Future Success program will be eligible to receive funding to help offset the cost of employing high school interns.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Stamm Koechlein Family Foundation for their investment in our students and our community,” said Shawntel Baker, Director of Employer Engagement at the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce. “This grant will help remove a financial barrier for nonprofit organizations that want to provide meaningful work experiences for students but may not otherwise have the resources to offer paid internships. It allows us to create more opportunities for students while connecting them with organizations doing important work right here in Wayne County.”

Through Student Future Success, the Chamber works alongside local schools and employers to create connections between students and businesses and organizations throughout the community. Students have the opportunity to explore career paths, gain workplace skills and build professional connections while employers can introduce the next generation to career opportunities available locally.

The $25,000 investment will allow nonprofit organizations to play an even greater role in those efforts while expanding the variety of experiences available to Wayne County students.

For more information about Student Future Success or opportunities to participate in the program, visit the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce website.