LOS ANGELES, CALIF., Oct. 29, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — JVS Los Angeles, a non-profit organization that provides job training,mentoring and education, combined with expert career guidance and employer partnerships is partnering with MobileCause, the world’s leading “mobile first” fundraising and communications platform for nonprofits, to support its JVS Works: Creating Hope & Opportunity submission to the MY LA2050 Grants Challenge, a $1,000,000 crowd sourced competition that supports creative ideas to improve Los Angeles.

JVS, which for nearly 85 years has been helping Angelenos overcome barriers to employment, is competing for a $100,000 grant, with plans to use it to eliminate the skills gap for 350 disadvantaged and poverty stricken individuals in the L.A. community and provide them with access to JVS WorksTM award-winning training programs.

JVSWorksTM training programs, developed in close partnership with top employers in the high growth industries of healthcare, finance and property management, ensure that graduates are fully prepared to advance along a meaningful career pathway that can lift them out of poverty. Programs are provided at no cost to the student allowing them to start their career debt-free upon graduation. At program completion, all employer partners attend the formal graduation and job fair where they interview the graduates for immediate job placement.

“We have a proven track record in helping job seekers become self sufficient through the JVS Works™ programs,” said Randy Lapin, JVS Chief Philanthropy Officer. “In 2014 alone, 186 of our graduates were placed in jobs earning an annual average salary of $34,000 with benefits, for a cumulative annual salary and benefits impact of $6.1 million reflecting more than eight-fold return on investment to our funders,” said Lapin. “The grant from LA2050, would allow us to aggressively recruit and screen thousands of residents and enroll 350 qualified individuals. That’s why we are thrilled that MobileCause is supporting this effort by offering us their suite of mobile donor communications pro-bono to help increase awareness of the campaign among our constituents.”

“We’ve supported JVSLA’s crowdfunding campaigns in the past, so when Randy asked us for our support to help increase votes, we were excited at the opportunity to apply our mobile fundraising and communication solutions to help promote JVS Works’ LA2050 campaign,” said Sean MacNeill, CEO, MobileCause. “We value JVS’ acknowledgement of how important it is to incorporate mobile marketing into campaigns, especially ones that require an immediate response.”

JVS supporters must cast their votes by noon on Tuesday, November 3, 2015.

Please visit www.jvsla.org/LA2050. No donation is required to vote.

Tweet: #JVSLAWorks training programs are lifting families out of poverty!

Help us transform #LosAngeles #LA2050 http://www.jvsla.org/LA2050

About JVSLA:

JVS Los Angeles offers hope and opportunity to the Los Angeles community through job training, mentoring and education, combined with expert career guidance and employer partnerships, transforming lives and lifting families out of poverty. They believe that a job is more than a paycheck—it is the key to dignity, selfsufficiency,and independence. It is the chance to get back on your feet or start anew and become, once again or for the first time, a contributing member of the community. With 18 training and counseling centers across Southern California, JVS is able to help nearly 30,000 people from all faiths and circumstances. We also work with city, state and government agencies, as well as other non-profits, to ensure that everyone has access to the resources they need. To learn more, visit www.jvsla.org.

About MobileCause:

MobileCause is the world’s leading “mobile first”, all-in-one, fundraising and donor communication platform designed to help nonprofits raise more donations while saving time and resources with no-cost merchant services, 0% transaction fees and an industry low flat-rate credit card processing fee. The powerful solutions include: Crowdfunding and Peer to Peer Campaigns, Event Registration, Ticketing and Fundraising, Sign-up, Survey, Petition and Membership Forms, Digital Fundraising and Mobile Marketing. The fully integrated suite of products is easy to use and works in any CRM. Plus, fundraising experts provide dedicated strategy support to all clients including United Way, The Salvation Army, American Heart Association, University of Southern California, Habitat for Humanity and many more. Learn more at www.mobilecause.com

A photo accompanying this release is available at:
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=37277

CONTACT: Juliette Harris,
         MobileCause Publicist
         (310) 577-1122
         [email protected]