FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – NIPSCO and the NiSource Foundation announced a $50,000 donation to the Jim Kelly Career Pathway Center of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Fort Wayne at a recent ceremony outside the center located at 2439 Fairfield Avenue.
The multi-million dollar project will introduce middle and high school aged children to the basics of the skilled trades and manufacturing in a primarily virtual learning environment. The state of the art programs will include manufacturing, automotive, information technology, construction trades, automotive, chain supply management and welding.
“The Career Pathway Center will afford children the opportunity to become immersed in an array of skilled trades and manufacturing roles that are so important to the community in northern Indiana,” said Rick Calinski, NIPSCO director of public affairs and economic development. “NIPSCO and the NiSource Foundation are so pleased to support this Boys & Girls Clubs’ education initiative, which will help illuminate the future jobs potential of so many critical fields.”
NIPSCO and the NiSource Foundation have been engaged with the club for many years including a skilled trades program called Project Blueprint with the Northeast Indiana Building Trades which engages youth with hands-on learning in the construction trades.
The new center, announced in January, involves a collaboration with numerous area businesses and the Fort Wayne Community Schools District which will introduce more than 2000 8th grade students to the Academy in the coming school year.
“NIPSCO and the NiSource Foundation have continually stepped up to help our kids,” said Joe Jordan, President & CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Fort Wayne, “They have, for many years, supported our events, special programs with law enforcement and public safety, skilled trades and STEM programming, our new building and now our new Pathway Center. Our collaboration has been a blessing.”
