THE CITY OF EAST ORANGE, THE YOUTH 2000 INITIATIVE

“LET’S PUT OUR YOUTH TO WORK” PROGRAM

AND COLGATE-PALMOLIVE KICK-OFF

TEN YEAR PARTNERSHIP COLGATE P.O.W.E.R

East Orange, New Jersey - At 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 25, 2008, Mayor Robert L. Bowser, Local youth, and representatives from the Colgate-Palmolive Company and Wakefern Food/ShopRite are set to kick-off their ten year partnership to support summer youth jobs at the Cicely Tyson School of Performing & Fine Arts, 161 Elmwood Avenue, East Orange, New Jersey.  (View Flyer in PDF format)

For more than sixteen years, the Colgate-Palmolive company has contributed over $2 million in grants for Summer Youth Employment Programs.  From 1992 as “Ajax Clean Sweep”, focusing on environmental clean up; it has evolved into the current eight city program with education and training at its core.  The objective has remained the same “to support youth employment and instill community pride through work ethic”.  Colgate P.O.W.E.R. (Preparing Our World through Education and Responsibility) currently takes place in the following cities; Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and Memphis.  In 2008 Colgate P.O.W.E.R will continue to focus on education and career development.

David J. Socolow, Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Labor is scheduled to speak to the youth at this years press conference with Mayor Bowser to inspire the young people to respect their job experience, the money they earn at these first jobs and encourage them to take full advantage of the life lessons they will receive during their summer work opportunity.

“With summer coming soon, connecting young people with job opportunities that teach responsibility and discipline is a top priority for the City of East Orange” said Mayor Bowser”.  Young people who engage in summer jobs tend to perform better in school and tend to remain in school.  Introducing youth to the world of work early in their lives has some significant and very positive results.  “The grant we receive from the Colgate P.O.W.E.R grant provides additional funding more jobs for our area youth.  “Our community will benefit when young people are engaged productively during the summer, providing much-needed services in hospitals, day care centers, senior centers, parks and public and private organizations.  “On behalf of the City of East Orange we’re pleased to have the Colgate-Palmolive Company and Wakefern Food/ShopRite Corporation for their ten year commitment to the youth of our City”.

“Colgate P.O.W.E.R. is just one aspect of the commitment Colgate-Palmolive has made to join you in encouraging and uplifting our young people” said Tiffany Pratt, Director of Multicultural Marketing at Colgate.  “We’re pleased to join Wakefern Food/ShopRite and the East Orange Workforce Development Office in offering training, education and work experience to young people in the East Orange community.  Our goal is to provide them with the skills, work ethic and opportunities necessary to help ensure future success”.

I’m excited and pleased that the city the Youth 2000 Initiative, Let’s Put Our Youth to Work Program, is celebrating this ten year partnership with the Colgate P.O.W.E.R. campaign, said M.J. Peterson, Manager of the City’s Division of Employment and Training, Youth 2000 Initiative Program.  The Colgate P.O.W.E.R. grant and the Youth 2000 Initiative’s Programs have been helping young people gain the skills and attitudes to make a positive and productive contribution to their communities, for the benefit of all.  Given the current climate, nothing could be more important than that.”

Colgate is a leading global consumer products company, tightly focused on Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition.  Colgate sells its products in over 200 countries and territories around the world under such internationally recognized brand names as Colgate, Palmolive, Mennen, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Protex, Sorriso, Kolynos, Elmex, Tom’s of Maine, Ajax, Axion, Soupline and Suavitel, as well as Hill’s Science Diet and Hill’s Prescription Diet pet foods.  For more information about Colgate’s global business, visit the Company’s website at http://www.colgate.com

For more information about the Youth 2000 Initiative’s Programs, call the City’s Division of Employment and Training/Workforce Development at  (973) 677-8916.

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