Mayor Pays Homage to former Mayor W.R. Grace Founder of Grace Institute a Free job Training Program for Women 

NEW YORK, N.Y. - One New York mayor recognizes another whose contributions have impacted the lives of local women for more than 100 years. Mayor Michael Bloomberg proclaims October 28, 2009, as Grace Day in honor of W.R. Grace and Grace Institute.

Since 1897 Grace Institute has educated underserved women in New York City, preparing them for employment in good-paying career fields - and doing so without charging tuition. Founded by New York's mayor W. R. Grace and his brother Michael, Grace Institute is being recognized by Mayor Bloomberg for empowering more than 300 women each year.

Grace Institute is celebrating Grace Day by kicking off a recruitment campaign to ensure that New York women with the drive and desire to improve their career situation have the opportunity to do so through Grace's job training and placement programs.

Mary Mulvihill, Executive Director of Grace Institute has set an ambitious goal of introducing 500 women to Grace Institute on Grace Day via a series of Open House recruitment sessions scheduled throughout the day.

The average student comes to grace earning about $6,000 per year with no benefits and leaves Grace earning $32,000 per year plus benefits. Grace boasts an 80% placement rate and graduates of the program are placed in administrative positions at leading corporations in the New York City area.

According to Mulvihill, an increasing number of Grace applicants are coming from a new class of fiscally disadvantaged women who need to enhance their existing skills in order to remain competitive in a tough job market. While experts say the economy is recovering, unemployment is still high and faces a slow turnaround, leaving many women without employment despite significant clerical, customer service or administrative experience. The skills and confidence Grace's program provides these women makes it a vital resource in the current economy.

Mulvihill said Grace is preparing all its students with the skills needed to confidently take on jobs that become available as the economy recovers. Employers, she said, can decrease hiring expenses and hire with more confidence if they consider Grace Institute graduates first, because of their high level of training and professional development.

Grace Institute got its start training women, especially immigrants, in domestic arts and secretarial skills and now focuses on teaching administrative and business skills. All classes are provided at no cost to students.

For more information about Grace Institute or Grace Day please visit www.GraceInstitute.org or call 212-832-7605.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jessica Epperly

212-500-5953 x118