 |
       |
 |
Fri, Jul 30, 2010 Site Map | |
 |
addressing core issues facing low-income communities: education, employment, crime prevention, affordable housing and leadership development. At OFS, low-income young people ages 16-24 work toward their GED or high school diploma, learn job skills, and serve their communities by building affordable housing. In the process, they fundamentally change their lives and roles in society.
OFS now has two year-round conservation crews available to complete meaningful, labor intensive conservation and community development work projects on public lands in South Central Wisconsin. For a modest funding match, almost all units of government and non-profit organizations can sponsor an OFS crew. Eligible project sponsors include school districts, lake associations, environmental groups, historical societies, civic organizations, divisions of local government, many sporting clubs, and more.
each year constructing new or remodeling 8-9 homes. These homes are sold on the open market to low- and moderate-income buyers. OFS is able to provide financial assistance to make the homes more affordable to buyers. Check out our Sunday Open House Schedule
Operation Fresh Start engages young people in job training and service projects that help protect our environment at the same time they prepare youth for jobs in the emerging Green Economy. All renovated or newly-built OFS homes are certified "Green Built," and all newly-built homes are also Energy Star certified. Operation Fresh Start partners with local government and non-profit agencies to complete projects that protect and improve the natural environment.OFS staff members provide career guidance to young people, exposing them to job opportunities in demand in the region, including career-track green-collar jobs. Read more about green collar jobs by clicking the link above. Operation Fresh Start NEWS:
OFS will recognize 73 young people for their accomplishments during the past year. We invite the public to attend the celebration which will be held at Warner Park Community Recreation Center, 1625 Northport Drive, in Madison. The Master of Ceremonies will be State Senator Jon Erpenbach. If you have questions, please call OFS at 244-4721. To see a list of the honorees and read more about the program, please click on the above link. Fresh Start Celebrates 40th Anniversary In service since 1970, Operation Fresh Start has given a "Second Chance" to over 7,300 people, most of whom are young people, ages 16-24. Fresh Start crews have built or extensively remodeled 210 energy-efficient, affordable homes and provided high quality conservation services to restore local parks and natural areas. (Click link above to read Wisconsin State Journal article on our 40 years of service!)
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded $570,000 to Operation Fresh Start to be used over 3 years to provide follow-up support and financial assistance to OFS graduates entering community college. The funds, which come through YouthBuild USA, are part of an ambitious $69 million effort by the Gates Foundation to double the number of low-income students who earn a college degree or vocational credential by age 26.
Thanks to American Family Insurance, Courtier Foundation, and Interactive Media Solutions (IMS) for their generous support in the creation of this website and the OFS video. Thanks also to Tilt Media for their effective work in capturing the spirit of our program in the creation of the video! Subscribe to our e-mail list |
| © 2010 Operation Fresh Start |
Powered by IMS |