HOUSTON (June 22, 2009)— Today, HoustonWorks USA and representatives from Colgate-Palmolive and H-E-B kicked off Colgate-Palmolive’s 2009 Colgate P.O.W.E.R. (Preparing Our World through Education and Responsibility) initiative in Houston, TX.
This year’s Colgate P.O.W.E.R. will support career development and placement for Houston youth by working with the Mayor’s office and providing contributions to HoustonWorks USA – a non-profit organization whose mission is to assist youth with job placement, continuing education and professional training.
“This is a tremendous program,” said Larry V. Green, Esq., CEO of HoustonWorks USA. “We have been working with Colgate-Palmolive and H-E-B for a number of years and their partnership and commitment to Houston’s youth is exceptional. With the current conditions of our economy, it is great that two major corporations are giving back to help our young people succeed.”
Colgate P.O.W.E.R. partners annually with local governments and Mayors’ offices to support youth development and career placement programs nationwide. Since 1990, Colgate-Palmolive has awarded grants to select cities to benefit summer employment programs. To date, Colgate-Palmolive alongside local retailers has awarded over $2.5 million in grants and approximately 350,000 youth participants have received valuable job training and work experience as a result.
“Colgate is committed to encouraging and uplifting America’s youth and our P.O.W.E.R. program has had a lasting and positive effect on young adults nationwide,” said Meg Bai, Multicultural Marketing, Colgate-Palmolive. “We’re pleased to join H-E-B, HoustonWorks USA and the city of Houston in offering training, education and work experience to young adults in Houston. Our goal is to provide them with the skills, work ethic and opportunities necessary to help ensure future success.”
For more information about HoustonWorks USA, please visit www.houstonworks.org.
To learn more about the Colgate P.O.W.E.R. initiative, please visit the Company’s website at www.colgate.com/power.
About HoustonWorks USA:
Founded in 1984, HoustonWorks USA is the leading provider of services focusing on job placement, continuing education and vocational training. Serving more than 900,000 annually, HoustonWorks USA provides job seekers with a variety of workshops including job search techniques, interviewing skills and resume writing, or use the resource library with Internet access and postings of local, state and national job openings. Training is also available in career fields such as healthcare, business, computers and education. HoustonWorks USA manages several of the largest Workforce Solutions offices in the Houston and the surrounding region for the Houston Galveston Area Council. These offices offer a wide range of services for job seekers as well as employers looking for trained workers. HoustonWorks is a 501(c) 3, tax-exempt organization. Visit www.houstonworks.org for additional information.
About Colgate-Palmolive Company:
Colgate-Palmolive is a leading global consumer products company, tightly focused on Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition. Colgate-Palmolive sells its products in over 200 countries and territories around the world under such internationally recognized brand names as Colgate, Palmolive, Mennen, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Protex, Sorriso, Kolynos, Elmex, Tom’s of Maine, Ajax, Axion, Soupline, and Suavitel, as well as Hill’s Science Diet and Hill’s Prescription Diet. For more information about Colgate-Palmolive’s global business, visit the Company’s web site at www.colgate.org.
About H-E-B:
H-E-B was founded in Kerrville, Texas in 1905 with a single grocery store. For more than 100 years, H-E-B has been an innovative retailer known for low prices, fresh food, quality products and convenient services. The company has grown to more than 300 stores in Texas and Northern Mexico with more than 70,000 employees. It conducts a wide range of efforts geared toward helping the community and the environment. H-E-B is one of the largest food chains in the United States, with annual sales more than $15 billion, and is the largest privately held company in Texas.