Tech Impact Celebrates Its 1,000th ITWorks Graduate
PHILADELPHIA, PA – December 6, 2024 – Tech Impact, a nonprofit and leader in technical training programs for young adults, will graduate its 1,000th ITWorks graduate at its December graduation celebration. ITWorks, which trains young adults towards industry-recognized IT certifications through hands-on training, paid internships, and mentorship, graduated its first cohort in 2011 and has since grown to four locations, including a new Nashville cohort prepped to kick off in 2025.
"For more than a decade, Tech Impact’s ITWorks program has helped individuals across the country to launch careers in the IT industries. To watch our 1,000th graduate walk across the stage will be an honor and a monumental milestone over a decade in the making” says Patrick Callihan, CEO of Tech Impact. “We had a vision that could couple our partnerships in the community, knowledge around the need of entry-level IT Support roles, and the mission to use technology to advance social impact to create an impactful program, and to reach this achievement is a testament to the hard work of our community partners, volunteers, funders, and staff.”
The program trains youth aged 18-26 that have graduated high school but have not yet completed a four-year degree. Through the 16-week program, students are taught Information Technology skills to prepare for the industry-recognized Comp TIA A+ Exam. In 2023, 26% of program participants were unemployed prior to starting the program, and the average salary of employed students was $26,427. Post graduation, average salaries increased to $43,449 with 70% finding full-time positions within six months. Alumni work in industries and anchor companies across their home cities including city and state governments like the City of Philadelphia and State of Nevada, national banks like Bank of America, Citizens, and M&T, and tech giants like Comcast, with job titles include End-User Support Technician, IT Support Provider, and Systems Support Technician.
ITWorks is free of charge to participants to remove the barrier of affordability, thanks to the generous support of corporate, foundation and government partners. Many long-time funders, such as Accenture, Barclays, Bank of America, Capital One, Citizens, MGM Resorts, M&T, PNC, and WSFS are also providing vital volunteer support and paid internships for students. Each student is paired with an IT industry mentor, who provides coaching and support throughout the program and matched with a paid internship provide first-hand, on the job experience and often lead to full-time employment.
Graduate success stories, like ITWorks 2011 graduate Brian Sarbaugh, exemplify how the skills students gain while participating in the program allow them to overcome barriers, enter the job market, and secure living wage positions. Sarbaugh, who was working dead-end jobs in the hospitality industry, enrolled in the ITWorks program in an attempt to find a more stable life. A decade later, Sarbaugh has a flourishing career in cybersecurity, recently promoted to Director of Cybersecurity Engineering at Morgan Stanley and named Tech Impact’s 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award Winner.
During December’s dual-cohort graduation, Tech Impact welcomed 23 new graduates into its robust alumni network that includes job placement support, middle-skills development opportunities, and networking connections. “We look forward to celebrating thousands more students graduating from our programs as we continue to build an inclusive talent pool and support the growing demand for skilled technology professionals,” said Callihan.
Headquartered in Philadelphia, Tech Impact serves over 400 organizations across the U.S. with a variety of technology services and support. Through its workforce development arm, the organization offers free career training for pathways in IT Support and Customer Service, as well as middle-skills training for program alumni in advanced cybersecurity and network engineering. Established relationships with hiring partners have resulted in more than 70% of Tech Impact graduates being employed within six months of completing a program.
About Tech Impact
Tech Impact is a nonprofit that leverages technology to advance social impact. Our proven workforce training programs and intermediary services prepare our graduates to launch or advance their careers in technology. We strengthen nonprofits through a full spectrum of technological support, giving them the education and services they need to deliver greater impact and help their communities thrive. Learn more at techimpact.org.
