Boca West Country Club to Launch Job Training Internship Program for Young Adults with Disabilities

Boca Raton FL – February 22, 2018 – Boca West Country Club has entered into an agreement with The Unicorn Children’s Foundation, Inc. to launch a job training internship program for young adults with disabilities in August of 2018.  Interns will range in age from 17-24 years of age who have an intellectual or developmental disability which makes it statistically more difficult for them to find jobs upon completion of high school.  The unemployment rate for youth with disabilities is approximately 80% despite their ability and willingness to work.  With the launch of the Project SEARCH site at Boca West Country Club, it is expected that at least 74% of interns will find competitive and meaningful employment following graduation.

Boca West Country Club will be the first private residential community to participate in this internationally renowned program.  Matthew Linderman, COO & General Manager of Boca West Country Club shared “We are honored to be the first company chosen to partner with the Unicorn Children’s Foundation/Unicorn Village Academy for this project and excited to get it on board.  My team and I are certain this is the beginning of a long successful collaboration.”

The Unicorn Children’s Foundation, Inc., recognized as a leading expert in the field of special needs, introduced the program to Boca West Country Club after receiving a training and planning grant from the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council to expand the Project SEARCH program and improve employment outcomes for these young adults.

Unicorn Children’s Foundation CEO, Sharon Alexander, added “This evidence-based program will not only reduce recruitment costs, improve retention rates in high turnover positions, enhance workforce diversity at Boca West Country Club, but we hope that it will create a cultural shift of acceptance, inclusion, and opportunity throughout the community.” 

 

An information night will be held on Wednesday, March 14, 2018 at Unicorn Village Academy in Boca Raton from 6-7:30pm for interested families.  Students should currently be enrolled in a Palm Beach County, Broward County or other private school and be interested in increasing independence, confidence and self-esteem while learning competitive, transferable, and marketable job skills.  For more information or to reserve your space, contact Ivonne Rodriguez at 561-620-9377 or ivonne@eunicorn.org.

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About Boca West Country Club

An award-winning private, gated, resident only luxury country club community is home to 6,000 residents, with a variety of home styles.  Boca West is the No. 1 Private Residential Country Club in the country. In November 2017, Boca West was named a Platinum Club of the World by Club Leaders Forum (ranked #15 out of 100).  Boca West is a Platinum Club of America, 5-Star Private Club since 1997, and is proudly recognized as a Distinguished Club by BoardRoom Magazine since 2013.  For more information, visit http://www.bocawestcc.org. To inquire about membership, please call 561.488.6934.

About The Unicorn Children’s Foundation, Inc.

Unicorn Children's Foundation is a non-profit organization providing education, awareness and funding opportunities to organizations for special needs children in an effort to help kids excel in the community.  For millions of special needs children with developmental, communication and learning challenges, finding a cure is like chasing a rainbow in that a cure remains elusive. The Unicorn Children’s Foundation is expanding the collective special needs community to help acknowledge, celebrate and integrate the special qualities possessed by neurodiverse children with Autism, ADHD, Bipolar, Asperger’s, Dyslexia and other learning disorders.

About Unicorn Village Academy

Unicorn Village Academy (UVA) focuses on the “whole student” teaching them life skills, employment preparation and academics.  The curriculum encourages independence, self-advocacy, and preparation for life. UVA teachers help students meet their academic goals by providing very specialized instruction.  They develop a sense of each students’ uniqueness by spending a number of years with them and their families.  Additionally, students are provided with opportunities, in a variety of community settings, to actively engage in real life learning experiences and exploration. Regardless of academic abilities, it is the executive function, communication, and social skills that will truly make a difference in the success of students becoming contributing members of society.