The William and Lanaea C Featherstone Foundation

The award-winning William & Lanaea C. Featherstone Foundation has been on The forefront empowering first-generation students to achieve higher education and tackling unemployment and underemployment through its innovative workforce and certification programs. To date, The Featherstone Foundation has served black, brown, and latinx families, as well as hundreds of immigrant families from 29 countries who speak over 40 languages. Through our education initiatives, The Featherstone scholarship programs has awarded over $156,000 through 72 scholarships to students from underrepresented communities from 19 countries who now attend 11 institutions. This scholarship aims to mitigate financial barriers to higher education and provide underserved communities with access to additional funding to pursue higher education. Through our workforce programs: our flagship workforce development program, reaching new heights, helps candidates from underrepresented communities to receive promising careers in The financial services industries. Our graduates earn between $9,000 and $42,000 more in wages, plus benefits. To date, The program has served nearly 70 participants from 24 countries who speak 35 languages. Our inaugural insurance certification program, building pathways positions high school graduates to receive insurance certifications and helps them land promising careers at state farm as licensed insurance professionals. The Featherstone corporate internship program provides economic opportunities for students from underrepresented communities. As a result of our program, students receive paid, 15-week professional internships supported by The Featherstone Foundation. Our program mitigates student-reported choices between unpaid fieldwork or paid positions without professional gains. As a result of our programs, The Featherstone Foundation continues its deep commitment to providing solutions that change The lives of underrepresented and underserved communities in baltimore city and The surrounding areas.