Bridges From School to Work

I have had several occasions to work with the staff at Bridges in Chicago. It is refreshing to see a team with such drive and determination to serve the special needs community. I have referred people to this program who can benefit from the services and I have referred many business owners looking for a resource for hardworking and committed employees. I take great comfort reading the stories of Bridges success. At the end of every workday, our world is a better place because of Bridges.

I am responsible for organizing volunteer opportunities for a workforce of ~68,000 professionals. For the past six years, I have helped organize a series of career readiness workshops where professionals from a variety of fields meet Bridges students to discuss topics including Professional Networking, Social Media Presence, Dressing for Success, and Effective Interviewing.

Bridges students (and staff) have left an incredible impression on my colleagues/volunteers, helping them gain insight into the mindset of the rising workforce and visibility into the challenges those with IDD face. As a direct result of these workshops, my employer has hired multiple Bridges student alumni who are now my professional peers.

I have had the pleasure of working with every branch of the Bridge's From School to Work program and the team never ceases to amaze me. From their Youth Career Specialists to the Director they are all amazing, dedicated passionate people who truly make a difference in their communities.

I am a premium manager for Aramark at Citizens Bank Park, home of the Phillies. I been privileged to work with the Bridge from School to Work program for four years now, and I could not be happier.
Whenever we have a spot to fill, the representatives from Bridges and I discuss the students available, what my needs are, and what roles would best fit the student's needs. Though the course of our season, the Bridge's representatives check in with both myself, and their students. If any issues arise, the Bridges people are there to provide support, as both our goals are to ensure the students have all the tools they need to grow in a work environment.
The students I have gotten have been good natured, hardworking, and amazing to be around. The representatives from Bridges have been absolutely awesome to work with, and I feel their support for the students and myself are at a high level. I have personally recommended this program to my associates in hospitality.

Simply put, Bridges From School To Work is the BEST! Bridges has a program goal to help individuals with disabilities seek out, obtain, and maintain employment. I'll be the first to say, Booda and her staff at the Philadelphia location, do an AMAZING job of achieving that; but they do SOOO much more! In my experience with Bridges they worked seamlessly and professionally as a liaison between the school, student home, family, and community employment partner. Bridges employees wear so many hats and go above and beyond their call of duty and program goals to make employment possibilities REAL for individuals with disabilities. They don't just talk a good talk; they actually walk the walk. I am thankful for the partnership we have built with Bridges From School to Work and sincerely look forward to continuing our journey together to employ individuals with disabilities!

The Bridges Program has been an excellent resource for my students with unique learnning styles. The program has offered them opportunities to succeed in the work world upon graduating from high school through preparation, training and on-going support. I look forward to a long term partnership.

The descendants of J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott, the founders of Marriott International, established Bridges from School to Work (Bridges) in 1989. As the Director of Human Rights and Social Impact at Marriott International, I have the pleasure of continuing to work with Bridges.

We recognize that unemployment and underemployment are some of today’s most pressing issues, driven by inequality and lack of opportunity, and as one of the world’s fastest growing industries, we are well positioned to be part of the solution. We understand that the transformative power of a job is one of the most impactful ways to empower people with disabilities, and through our efforts with leading organizations, including Bridges, we support skills development, training, job placement, and business opportunities for people with disabilities.

For over 30 years, our partnership with Bridges has made a positive impact by creating and supporting opportunities. Hotels, in the 12 cities where Bridges programs have been established, have worked with Bridges to interview and hire young adults. We have also collaborated with Bridges to offer mock interviews to young adults, host hotel tours and job shadowing experiences, and invite young adults to participate in volunteer activities.

Bridges from School to Work is a truly amazing nonprofit. The organization has provided my students with incredible employment opportunities over the last 9-10 years I have worked with the program. Every year I am excited to get a new group of students involved in the Bridges program. The director of the program and employer reps have always been extremely helpful, supportive and professional. I look forward to the future of working with Bridges and I'm excited to see my students achieve success through their program.

It has been great to watch the Bridges team transform and coach their students to a successful plan to move into the workplace. I have worked with them for the past 20 years and they have always found a way to be engaged with the students and employers. They now have the alumni from the program helping to teach the new students. The Bridges team is great in helping to create a plan that works for the employee and employer. They can help you break down your jobs by tasks and find an employee that can be and expert in one task or help to find full time employees.

Partnering with Bridges From School to Work is such a rewarding experience. The students are amazing and talented individuals that once hired, have proven track records of amazing success stories. I'm very fortunate to not only have had the opportunity to work with the Chicago based team but those that they serve as well.

Bridges from School to Work is an incredible team of visionary and effective leaders. Their staff are dedicated and hard working. They are wonderful partners -- communicative and reliable. They are mission-driven and inspiring. They are the best organization for individuals who need support in finding employment.

I was a kid that benefited from Bridges and still work for the San Francisco Zoo that Benefits from The Bridges Program. When Im asked about how Bridges helped me, my first responce is always, They saved my life. I went through a lot growing up and had no path and to be honest I didnt care what happened to me. Robert Mollard is my Hero. He took a chance on me when everyone else gave up. And im sure I gave him a hard time sometimes but he stuck with me. He got me my first job at the SF Zoo 27 years ago working in the Food Stands. I later became Head Chef and then moved to other areas like Geust Servises, Custodial, Maintenance and drove the animal waste truck. I am now the Enviromental Sevices Manager incharge of 11 staff, The Fork Lift Certified trainer for the Zoo, In charge of Hazardous Waste, Permits and City Certs as well as the main perchacer for the Zoo. And eight years ago I became a home owner. Non of this would have happened with out the Bridges Program and Robert Mollard. Robert still keeps in touch evey Christmas and i still get exsited to tell him whats new. Thank you Bridges and Thank you Robert for everything you have done for me and all the others that have bennefited from your program.

Bridges deserves more than 5 stars! I had the honor of serving the young adults of Bridges as an Employer Representative for almost 10 years. The work Bridges does is awe inspiring. So many young adults enter the program lost and unsure of their futures. Once they begin working with an Employer Rep and make a good job match, their lives are forever changed. The young adults not only gain important life skills, they gain hope and are able to see their futures in a different light.

I was lucky to work with many young adults in my time on the team, and I still keep in touch with a handful even though they are now full-fledged adults and my family has moved 4 hours away! It is amazing to see how they have grown and are now able to fully-support themselves - - it is truly the power of a job! Even though I no longer live or work in a city where Bridges is located, I will forever be a supporter of the work they do. They change a countless number of lives.

In addition, not only is Bridges a wonderful place for the participants, it is truly the best work environment I have ever been a part of. The entire team - from the local offices to the headquarters in Maryland - is approachable, supportive, knowledgeable, well-rounded and full of heart. If only all businesses - nonprofit and for-profit alike - were like Bridges, the world would be a better place!

The Bridges School to Work Program changed my life! I was able to meet students that I am still connected to 15 years later. The students tell me that the skills they learned at the Bridges School to Work Program has helped them throughout their lives. It also helped them to encourage others around them to find and keep a job despite any disability and difficulties they may face in life. Hands down, this is the best organization I have ever been blessed to be involved with.

Bridges to Work is an EXCELLENT non-profit agency that prepares and assists youth ages 17-24 that receive special services or 504 with pre-employment skills: from preparing for work, looking for jobs, completing applications, interviewing for jobs, and getting through new hire paperwork. The youth I work with in Dallas ISD have had amazing experience and success working with Bridges to Work!

Bridges From School To Work has been a tremendous asset and collaborative partner with Fort Worth ISD Special Education and Transition Support Services. We have enjoyed what has become a special partnership of more than 8 years duration. We are especially pleased with the "hands-on" approaches taken by the Bridges Team which has served both as support and liaison between schools and competitive, integrated employment options for eligible students. We rest confident that the highly professional and eager Bridges Staff will continue to hold our students' interests and individualized needs central to all decisions, services and supports. FWISD Special Education readily endorses Bridges From School To Work and congratulates the Fort Worth-based team for it's many successes supporting the students, parents, schools and greater FWISD community.

I know Bridges does great work because I used to work for them. There is nothing but dedicated and hardworking staff that care deeply about the Bridges’ mission: Help youth with disabilities find jobs!! As we all know, a job means: security, providing for yourself and your family, independence, being a productive member in society, a tool to build confidence, a way to develop growth and learning, and a path to a successful future. Bridges makes it so much easier for the youth in our communities to reach the important milestone that is employment.

Bridges is such an incredible program! It's truly a blessing that my company partners with this nonprofit. Over the years, we have had a multitude of successful hires through Bridges. We have been fortunate to get some really strong and dedicated employees through this program. Not only are we directly benefiting from these hires, but it's also so rewarding to see the blossoming of their career paths and growing themselves professionally. The partnership we have with the Bridges team is so solid. I can reach out to their team at any time to seek more Bridges students and they regularly reach out with potential candidates for our team. Truly such a fantastic program.

I have been involved with the Bridges From School to Work Program for a number of years, and had the opportunity to witness first hand the critical work they do helping students transition to the workforce.