Culinary pathway students, Felicia Hodges, instructor, Mariana Mansfield. CTAE Director, Leslie Clark and Dave Thillen, Thillen Education Foundation.

GREENSBORO, GA — Thillen Education Foundation has received a $10,000 grant from the Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund in support of the unique career coaching program in partnership with Greene College & Career Academy located inside Greene County High School.

Dave Thillen, founder of Thillen Education Foundation, said the funds will help run the foundation so 95% of private donations can go directly for scholarships or career start packages for students graduating from Greene County High School.

Over the past five years the career coaching program has been in place, involving 180 career coaches and over 600 students, the graduation rate has increased 14% (77% to 91%).For the first two graduated classes, industry certifications have increased 300%, students attending college increased 67% and financial assistance to graduated classes increased 14%.

In both rural and urban settings, the Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund supports hundreds of important organizations and programs in the communities where they operate with the funding, time, expertise, and resources. Weyerhaeuser made its first charitable donation in 1903 and has provided more than $260 million in grants through its formal giving program, which was established in 1948.