Thillen Foundation receives Weyerhaeuser grant

GREENE COUNTY

  • Culinary pathway students, Instructor Felicia Hodges, CTAE Director Mariana Mansfield, and representatives of the Thillen Education Foundation Leslie Clark and Dave Thillen pose together. CONTRIBUTED
    Culinary pathway students, Instructor Felicia Hodges, CTAE Director Mariana Mansfield, and representatives of the Thillen Education Foundation Leslie Clark and Dave Thillen pose together. CONTRIBUTED

    The Thillen Education Foundation has received a $10,000 grant from the Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund in support of its unique career coaching program in partnership with Greene College & Career Academy at Greene County High School (GCHS).

    Thillen Education Foundation founder Dave Thillen said the funds will help run the foundation so that 95 percent of private donations can go directly for scholarships or career-start packages for GCHS graduates.

    The career coaching program has been in place for the past five years, involving 180 career coaches and more than 600 students, and the graduation rate has increased by 14% (77% to 91%). For the first two graduated classes, industry certifications increased by 300 percent, students attending college increased by 67% and graduated classes saw a 14% increase in financial assistance.

    In both rural and urban settings, the Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund supports hundreds of important organizations and programs with funding, time, expertise, and resources in the communities where they operate. Weyerhaeuser made its first charitable donation in 1903 and has provided more than $260 million in grants through its formal giving program, established in 1948.