The 49ers in partnership with Year Up Bay Area announced 49ers wide receiver Josh Morgan is participating in a Walk for Opportunity for Bay Area young adults. In partnership with Year Up, a national organization that provides urban young adults with the skills, experience, and support that will empower them to reach their potential through professional careers and higher education, Morgan will kick-off the Walk for Opportunity to be held on Thursday, May 13 from 3:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. in San Francisco. Morgan, along with nearly 300 students already enrolled in the Year Up program, will march across San Francisco to raise awareness for the opportunities available to young adults, age 18-24, being affected by the opportunity divide.
"Growing up I have seen a lot of people affected by this opportunity divide and it is great to see a national organization like Year Up provide young adults with opportunities they might not otherwise have available to them," said Morgan. "I am blessed by my athletic abilities and have worked extremely hard to take advantage of the opportunities given to me. I'm excited to support an organization and a walk that can help provide similar opportunities to other low-income youth across the country."
Across the entire country at all six Year Up city locations, including San Francisco, Boston, Providence, New York, Washington D.C. and Atlanta, thousands will be walking to raise awareness of the Opportunity Divide, and the ability of young adults, social sector organizations, businesses, higher education and government to work together to galvanize the US economic recovery.
The Walk for Opportunity in San Francisco will start promptly at 3:00 p.m. at Boeddeker Park with Morgan providing the opening remarks. The group will then head to Market Street and end the walk at Justin Herman Plaza.
"Year Up Bay Area is honored to have Josh Morgan participating in the inaugural Walk for Opportunity," said Jay Banfield, Year Up Bay Area Executive Director. "Having a person of Josh's caliber and character take the time to recognize the efforts of our students and alumni, speaks volumes to the importance of closing the Opportunity Divide in this country."
Founded in 2000, Year Up, a non-profit organization now operating in six cities across the country, has been helping young adults support US economic success for a decade. The organization's mission is to close the Opportunity Divide by providing urban young adults with the skills, experience and support that will empower them to reach their potential through professional careers and higher education.
A one-year intensive training and education program, Year Up provides both high school graduates and GED recipients, ages 18-24, with a combination of hands-on skill development and corporate internship opportunities. Over 130 corporate partners in six cities have helped 2,726 students bridge the Opportunity Divide. 87% of graduates are placed within full- or part-time jobs within four months of graduation, and earn an average wage of $15 per hour.
