100,000 Bags and Counting!

During the first quarter of 2008, Cleanslate (The Cara Programs social enterprise) broke a major milestone by collecting its 100,000th bag of garbage/ recycling. Interns, staff and community supporters celebrated this sucess on April 28, 2008.

While Cleanslate was removing over 2.5 MILLION pounds of trash and recycling in the past two years, we were also providing 362 disadvantaged individuals with the opportunity to develop professionally and gain work experience through transitional jobs with Cleanslate.

Moreover, since Cleanslate's launch in 2005, we have placed 162 Cleanslate Interns into permanent employment with Chicago companies.  These jobs have a current average wage of $9.73, plus benefits.**

The work done everyday in Chicago's neighborhoods is paid for by the communities we serve.

But the training and support that Cleanslate Interns receive is funded primarily through private gifts.

 "I used to get up at 4:30 in the morning to do drugs and 'work' on my addiction.  Now I get up at 4:30 in the morning to go to work, period!

- Audrey G., former Cleanslate Intern (who has since been promoted to a permanent position as Crew Chief and who just celebrated her 18 month anniversary in that position on March 11, 2008).

In celebration of our milestone, we hope that you may consider a financial gift to our mission that will help men and women like Audrey take those first critical steps towards real and lasting success.  A gift of any size will help Cleanslate Interns not only transform Chicago neighborhoods but also transform their lives.

Please donate now, to show your support for the hundreds of Cleanslate Interns who will receive high quality training and support from Cleanslate and The Cara Program in 2008.

Thank you for honoring our mission with your support.

Sincerely,

Eric Weinheimer
President, The Cara Program

* In total, The Cara Program placed 205 individuals in 2007, 162 of whom were Cleanslate Interns.

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