YES Receives Grant Support and Welcomes Participants

We have received a $50,000 grant from the Truist Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Truist Financial Corporation, to support our innovative YES (Your Efforts, Supported) Program.

Announced in 2022 and launched earlier this year, YES gives participants needed tools and support to earn additional certifications and further their education to meet career goals—all while helping us fill important positions within our organization. Ultimately, the program can help you move into higher paying roles and enhance your financial well-being.

Participants who apply and are accepted into YES work with the program navigator, Natasha Saunders, to determine their custom path in the program and what barriers may stand in the way of their success. Then they collaborate to eliminate those barriers, paving the way for participants to focus on learning and training without the stress of balancing work and home responsibilities.

“We are deeply grateful to the Truist Foundation for their generous support,” says Paul Hudgins, senior vice president of Human Resources. “This grant will help us to continue to offer employees opportunities for growth to achieve their career aspirations and improve their financial well-being, while helping us meet talent needs now and in the future.”

The grant comes just in time to welcome the program's first cycle of participants. In January, we opened the application process to accept the first participants for YES. After careful deliberation and an extensive selection process, five employees were selected from over 100 applicants to participate in the program.

A reception and orientation was held this spring to welcome the participants, who are beginning their next chapter through YES in just a few weeks. Check out pictures from the event and what participants and program organizers had to say.

“I have never felt so supported in all my life. I don’t have to worry about how I am going to work and go to school because this program will help me to do both. It’s like a circle of support at every angle .”
Catherine Dyson, Materials Management specialist, is working to become a radiology technician.

“I remember my grandma with diabetes…I gave her the shots so she could get insulin. When I see patients at work, I want to help them, and soon I will be able  to. I have been taking classes for some time before being accepted into YES, but life has been hard. It's made me stronger and I am so happy I can do this."
Rana Mahood, Food Services support associate, is pursuing nursing.

"I have wanted to offer a program like this to employees for many years—even before I came to Carilion. I’m incredibly proud of the hard work, commitment and collaboration of so many people who helped to transform this vision into a reality. It’s been amazing to watch YES come to fruition and to meet the people tonight whose lives will change for the better because of it."
Paul Hudgins, senior vice president, Human Resources

The application process will open for the next cycle of YES participants in spring 2024. Be sure to watch Inside Carilion for details. For more information, including program criteria and applications, visit the YES hub.