Mikeroweworks Foundation

Through our annual work ethic scholarship program, we initially selected 138 recipients totaling $1,050,750 in work ethic scholarships. 134 recipients ultimately accepted their awards in 17 eligible skilled trade programs across 38 states. This program is about recognizing the people who understand the importance of work ethic, personal responsibility, delayed gratification, and a positive attitude. These are the hardworking men and women who keep the lights on, water running, and air flowing. The scholarship awards ranged from $1,800 to $20,000 per recipient, and wolverine generously donated a pair wolverine boots directly to these students. We also helped facilitate the granting of an additional $40,000 through direct tuition credits for work ethic scholarship recipients attending universal technical institute.

We first started to develop a work ethic curriculum in 2019 that we piloted at a handful of colleges in 2020. The work ethic curriculum focuses on the 12 statements of the s.w.e.a.t. Pledge. Each statement has a story, and each story comes from mike rowe's personal experience working with entrepreneurs and hardworking people across the country. Each lesson breaks down the origin of each statement in 12 lessons and explores why we believe every student and worker can benefit from embracing this pledge, regardless of their job or skillset. This year, we spent a lot of time revising the existing curriculum as well as expanding it to include a secondary version as well as hybrid and in-person formats for both secondary and post-secondary education. Since the inception of the curriculum, we've issued more than 2,500 work ethic certifications.

The Foundation continually expands and maintains its website which serves as the marketing and communication vehicle for the Foundation and is critical in not only bringing attention to the skills gap problem but also in continuing its fundraising efforts.