Walmart Foundation Awards WesternU Health Career Ladder $40,000 Grant
The Walmart Foundation donated $40,000 to two Western University of Health Sciences programs that prepare and inspire Pomona Unified School District elementary, middle and high school students for careers in the sciences and the health professions. The Pomona Health Career Ladder (PHCL) and American Indian Health Career Ladder (AIHCL) provide mentorship and other resources to students from under-resourced communities of Pomona and surrounding neighborhoods.
“We thank Walmart for funding WesternU’s Health Career Ladder programs, which empowers students from disadvantaged backgrounds with access to mentorship and workshops,” said Dr. Elizabeth Rega, associate vice provost for Academic Development. “Our students are passionate about their pursuits in the sciences and health fields, and we believe that no student should have to compromise their aspirations for lack of access to proper resources.”
The Walmart Foundation Community Giving grant was presented Saturday, April 21, 2018, at the beginning of the Pomona Health Career Ladder (PHCL) and American Indian Health Career Ladder (AIHCL) year-end awards ceremony. Walmart’s grant will go toward enriching the education of students in Pomona and surrounding communities with free workshops and mentorship from established health care and other professionals.
“Walmart and the Walmart Foundation know the importance of fostering the love for learning in our youth,” said Market Manager Jondolon Bush. “We know that many of the students benefiting from the programs of the Western University of Health Sciences come from communities that are underrepresented in the fields on science and health, which is why we applaud WesternU for their life-changing work.”
The goal of the Walmart Foundation grant is to invest in the community and in the future of health care professionals. The grant will help PHCL and AIHCL operate its free Saturday academy workshops in subjects such as disaster preparedness, forensics, disabilities, cardiovascular and respiratory, infectious diseases and healthy lifestyles.
