Baker Industries
| File:Baker Industries logo.png | |
| Formation | 1980 |
|---|---|
| Type | Nonprofit organization |
Region | Philadelphia and surrounding suburbs |
| Fields | Workforce development |
President | Rich Bevan |
| Website | www |
Baker Industries is a nonprofit workforce development organization in the US state of Pennsylvania. It serves four segments of the vulnerable adult population: adults with disabilities, recently incarcerated people, homeless people, and those in substance abuse recovery..[1] Baker Industries has two locations in Malvern, Pennsylvania and Kensington, Philadelphia.
History
Baker Industries was founded in 1980 by Charles and Louise (Weezie) Baker to provide work for their son Justin, who struggled with both school and employment due to severe epilepsy. Justin began by mixing and packaging small bottles of furniture polish sold by mail order in the family garage. Soon, the Bakers began attracting other high-functioning disabled adults looking for work, and the organization moved into a small facility in Malvern.[2]
In 1988, Baker Industries opened a second location in North Philadelphia, partnering with a local shelter to serve homeless, recovering, and recently incarcerated individuals. The organization resided in numerous locations in the next decade before settling in a warehouse at F Street and Tioga Street in Kensington in 2000. Currently, Baker Industries’ Philadelphia warehouse is located at I Street and Erie Street.
In 1990, Baker Industries received 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.[3]
In 1991, Baker Industries was honored with a Points of Light Award by President George H.W. Bush.[4]
Like other businesses, Baker was required to close at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. The organization started a relief fund for its participants and was able to reopen in June 2020[5]
Baker Industries now employs 150–200 people every year.[1]
Approach
Participants at Baker Industries engage in what the organization calls “real work for real customers”[6] for a regular hourly wage. They perform light industrial, hands-on jobs such as shrink-wrapping, mailing, and assembly.[7] As of 2023, customers include Scrub Daddy, Tastykake, Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
In addition, participants receive training and workshops on topics such as job readiness, goal-setting, and interviewing in a trauma-informed setting. The goal of Baker Industries is to eventually move them into sustainable, long-term employment.[1][8]
Since 1980, over 12,000 people have benefited from the program.[9]
Baker Industries does not rely on government grants for program funding, depending primarily on private donations and revenue from its warehouse operations. Baker Industries hosts an annual fundraising gala at the Merion Cricket Club[10] and a charity golf tournament at the Applebrook Golf Club. Its yearly operating revenue is $2–3 million.
This article "Baker Industries" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Baker Industries. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Arvedlund, Erin (2021-02-08). "Baker Industries provides jobs to workers who are often overlooked by other companies". Retrieved 2023-08-03.
- ↑ "Charlie Baker '43 - The Haverford School | All Boys Pre-K-12 Private School". 2017-07-01. Archived from the original on 2017-07-01. Retrieved 2023-08-03. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Roberts, Andrea Suozzo, Ken Schwencke, Mike Tigas, Sisi Wei, Alec Glassford, Brandon (2013-05-09). "Baker Industries Inc - Nonprofit Explorer". ProPublica. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
- ↑ Yumpu.com. "h o n o R E E S - Points of Light Foundation". yumpu.com. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
- ↑ "Baker Industries Annual Report 2020" (PDF). 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
- ↑ "About Us - Baker Industries". Retrieved August 3, 2023.
- ↑ "Baker Industries supplies jobs for hard-to-employ adults". www.philadelphiaeagles.com. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
- ↑ "City Suburban News 8_14_13 issue by City Suburban News - Issuu". issuu.com. 2013-08-14. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
- ↑ "Baker Industries - Providing Hard to Employ Adults a Chance to Work and Thrive". Retrieved August 3, 2023.
- ↑ "Malvner's Baker Industries returns employees,resources to community". Mainline Media News. 2013-06-27. Retrieved 2023-08-03.[permanent dead link]
