building a workforce for the future: Papitto Opportunity Connection makes $10M gift to Lifespan Foundation The Lifespan Foundation received a $10 million commitment from the Papitto Opportunity Connection to expand its workforce development programs, with a particular focus on adding new career pathways for our communities of color. The gift—the largest to the Lifespan Foundation in its history—will support the hiring of more than 1,000 BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) individuals over the next four years. Lifespan’s forward-thinking workforce development programs, unique among its peers, provide opportunities for both
entry-level positions and long-term careers with advancement potential. At a time when staffing shortages have created unprecedented challenges across the health sector, the POC award is growing our ability to offer no-cost certification for high-demand medical professions.
Positions we’re actively recruiting for include: • • • • •
Nursing assistant Pharmacy technician Medical assistant Behavioral health specialist Residential care counselor
Looking ahead, we plan to develop a paid job training program for formerly incarcerated BIPOC individuals, a succession program to prepare diverse employees for leadership roles, and academic scholarships for employees from underrepresented communities.
Left to right: Joseph G. Pannozzo, Vice President for Development, Lifespan; John Tarantino; Timothy J. Babineau, MD, President and CEO, Lifespan; Barbara Papitto; Lisa Abbott, Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Community Affairs, Lifespan.
“Lifespan’s commitment to providing education and skills training that will directly create good paying, career-oriented jobs for Rhode Island’s BIPOC community is truly transformational.” - Barbara Papitto, founder, Papitto Opportunity Connection
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