Boca West Country Club offers jobs to seven developmentally disabled young adults who graduated from Club’s internship program.

Project Search job-training program is in partnership with Unicorn Children’s Foundation and Unicorn Village Academy.

BOCA RATON, FL, June 6, 2019 – Adults, aged 18 to 24, with intellectual and developmental disabilities graduated last week from an inaugural 10-month internship program at Boca West Country Club during which they trained for the workforce. All of the seven young adults in the program were offered jobs at Boca West following their graduation, serving in the Club’s food and beverage, retail, and golf course maintenance departments.

The internship program is in partnership with Project SEARCH, Unicorn Children’s Foundation and Unicorn Village Academy. Boca West is the only residential club in the world to participate in the Project SEARCH program and the interns learned competitive, transferable, and marketable job skills. The second pre-employment intern class will begin in August.

“This incredible group of individuals became part of the Boca West family. All of them came to work each day with a great attitude and inspiring work ethic, and they became close not only with the staff here but with our members,” said Matthew Linderman, Boca West Country Club President, Chief Operating Officer and General Manager. “We were thrilled to make job offers to all of the graduates and are excited for them to remain on our team.”

“We are so grateful for our partnership with Boca West Country Club, which has transformed the lives of these young adults,” said Sharon Alexander, CEO of the Unicorn Children’s Foundation. “Unfortunately, 68% of adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities are unemployed despite their desire and ability to work. Thanks to this program, these young adults received valuable training and a job. We are so proud of their great work.”

About Boca West Country Club Project SEARCH

Boca West Country Club Project SEARCH provides a job training internship program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, which began in August of 2018. Interns range in age from 17-24 years of age, which makes it statistically more difficult for them to find jobs upon completion of high school. By providing extensive internship opportunities, it is expected that at least 74% of interns will find competitive and meaningful employment following graduation. Boca West Country Club is the first private residential community in the world to participate in this internationally renowned program.

About Project SEARCH

Project SEARCH’s primary objective is to secure competitive employment for people with disabilities. Project SEARCH at Children’s Hospital Medical Center of Cincinnati began in 1996 and provides education and on-the-job training opportunities, which has led to permanent employment for nearly 75% of individuals with disabilities who have completed the program. This collaborative model has proven to be very successful at meeting employer needs while placing persons with disabilities in long-term employment. Since its inception, Project SEARCH has grown from a single program site at Cincinnati Children’s to a large and continuously expanding international network of sites with replication in 45 states and 9 countries.

About The Unicorn Children’s Foundation, Inc.

Unicorn Children’s Foundation is a 24-year-old non-profit organization that is dedicated to building communities of acceptance, support, and opportunity for kids and young adults who are challenged by special needs and neurodiversity by supporting or developing it cradle to career pathways. Our initiatives connect families to community resources, advocate for inclusive opportunities, respect differences, empower individuals, and support success. With 1 in 6 children being diagnosed with a developmental or learning disorder, we believe it is our responsibility to create a world where all children’s potential can flourish.

About Unicorn Village Academy, Inc.

Unicorn Village Academy (UVA) focuses on the “whole student” teaching them life skills, employment preparation and academics. The curriculum encourages independence, self-advocacy, and preparation for life. A high school for 13-22 year old students with developmental and learning challenges that provides a safe and dignified learning environment to explore and realize true abilities and potentials. Using an innovative, strength-based teaching model, integrating academics, social and inter-personal communication strategies, students will develop the necessary skills to successfully transition to work, college and independent living. Unicorn Village Academy will give each student the opportunity to live out their own dreams and control their own lives and fully engage in the community in which they live.

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Intellectually/Developmentally Disabled Adults Train for the Workforce through Boca West Country Club and Unicorn Children’s Foundation partnership

BOCA RATON, FL, April 24, 2019 – Adults, aged 18 to 24, with intellectual and developmental disabilities are training for the workforce thanks to a partnership between Boca West Country Club, Project SEARCH, Unicorn Children’s Foundation and Unicorn Village Academy.

Last week five of these adults participated in the Boca West Country Club Project SEARCH Skills Assessment Day in which they were paired one on one with department mentors.  During the session, Boca West identified candidates for the August launch of a pre-employment internship-training program.  It is expected that all student interns will learn competitive, transferable, and marketable job skills and at least 74% of interns will find competitive and meaningful employment following completion of this intensive program.

The first pre-employment intern class of seven individuals started in August 2018 and will graduate from the program on May 30.

“Unfortunately, 80% of adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities are unemployed despite their desire and ability to work,” said Sharon Alexander, CEO of the Unicorn Children’s Foundation.  “We are so grateful for our partnership with Boca West Country Club, which will help these candidates join the workforce and learn valuable skills.”

Boca West Country Club President, Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Matthew Linderman, CCM, met with the candidates and their families.  “Our first class of pre-employment interns have become valuable and inspiring members of the Boca West family.  As they prepare to graduate in May, they have learned so many real life workplace skills that will enable them to future success.  We can’t wait to welcome the next class in August.”

About Boca West Country Club Project SEARCH

Boca West Country Club Project SEARCH provides a job training internship program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities which began in August of 2018.  Interns range in age from 17-24 years of age which makes it statistically more difficult for them to find jobs upon completion of high school.  By providing extensive internship opportunities, it is expected that at least 74% of interns will find competitive and meaningful employment following graduation.  Boca West Country Club is the first private residential community in the world to participate in this internationally renowned program.

About Project SEARCH

Project SEARCH’s primary objective is to secure competitive employment for people with disabilities.  Project SEARCH at Children’s Hospital Medical Center of Cincinnati began in 1996 and provides education and on-the-job training opportunities, which has led to permanent employment for nearly 75% of individuals with disabilities who have completed the program.  This collaborative model has proven to be very successful at meeting employer needs while placing persons with disabilities in long-term employment.  Since its inception, Project SEARCH has grown from a single program site at Cincinnati Children’s to a large and continuously expanding international network of sites with replication in 45 states and 9 countries.

About The Unicorn Children’s Foundation, Inc.

Unicorn Children’s Foundation is a 24-year-old non-profit organization that is dedicated to building communities of acceptance, support, and opportunity for kids and young adults who are challenged by special needs and neurodiversity by supporting or developing it cradle to career pathways.  Our initiatives connect families to community resources, advocate for inclusive opportunities, respect differences, empower individuals, and support success.  With 1 in 6 children being diagnosed with a developmental or learning disorder, we believe it is our responsibility to create a world where all children’s potential can flourish.

About Unicorn Village Academy, Inc.

Unicorn Village Academy (UVA) focuses on the “whole student” teaching them life skills, employment preparation and academics.  The curriculum encourages independence, self-advocacy, and preparation for life.  A high school for 13-22 year old students with developmental and learning challenges that provides a safe and dignified learning environment to explore and realize true abilities and potentials. Using an innovative, strength-based teaching model, integrating academics, social and inter-personal communication strategies, students will develop the necessary skills to successfully transition to work, college and independent living. Unicorn Village Academy will give each student the opportunity to live out their own dreams and control their own lives and fully engage in the community in which they live.

One of South Florida’s top private clubs, Boca West Country Club, has joined an elite group of prestigious golf destinations around the world. Boca West Country Club has been named one of the most iconic clubs in the world in a National Club Association survey of 314 private club managers. Conducted by The McMahon Group, the Pulse Survey featured in the organization’s current Club Trends magazine, ranked Boca West as one of the top in the world among golf and country clubs. It was the only Florida country club to receive this distinction.

“We are deeply humbled by that our peers in the country and golf club world find Boca West to be one of the world’s most iconic clubs, sharing the honor with the famed St. Andrews in Scotland, Augusta National, and Pebble Beach,” said Matthew Linderman, CCM, President, COO and General Manager of Boca West Country Club. “We have an incredible staff who go above and beyond to provide everlasting memories and experiences for our members who are the Club’s greatest brand ambassadors as they share their enthusiasm for Boca West with friends and family throughout the world.”

Boca West Country Club features four championship 18-hole golf courses designed by Pete Dye, Arnold Palmer and Jim Fazio, as well as a new $50 million, 100,000-square-foot golf and activities center. The Club also features championship tennis and pickleball courts, six restaurants, a spa and fitness center, and amenities that appeal to every generation and age group.

For more than 55 years, the National Club Association (NCA), a Washington, D.C.-based trade association, has provided private clubs with a voice on Capitol Hill. NCA also has educated clubs on the ever-evolving trends in the club community and has provided them with the tools they need to navigate the tides of change, including resources related to effective club governance, operations, model club practices, trends and legal issues.

About Boca West Country Club

An award-winning private, gated, resident only luxury country club community is home to 6,000 residents (3,400 families), with magnificent residences including a new luxury high rise with units ranging from $1 to $4 million townhomes, patio homes, villas, garden apartments and single-family homes. Boca West Country Club is a Platinum Club of America, 5-Star Private Club since 1997, and is proudly recognized as a Distinguished World Club by BoardRoom Magazine since 2013, a 2013 USTA Outstanding Facility Award winner, and has been named a 2019 AGM Platinum Award winner by the Association of Golf Merchandisers. Boca West Country Club’s Top Platinum Golf & Country Club designation was recently featured Forbes.

For more information, visit bocawest.com To inquire about club membership, call 888-504-BOCA.