Program Overview
The Want2Work (W2W) program from Americans Helping Americans® provides critical financial assistance for GED programs, vocational training, and certification exams. By removing financial barriers, W2W helps young adults acquire the skills necessary to secure stable, well-paying jobs and build stronger futures.
“The Want2Work initiative was started to remove financial barriers for low-income vocational students who are eager to start their careers but face obstacles such as the cost of professional tools, equipment, uniforms, and certification exams,” states Americans Helping Americans® Executive Director Cameron Krizek.
“Americans Helping Americans® is able to directly invest in the futures of these young professionals and help them take tangible steps towards an empowering career in high-demand industries such as healthcare, welding, automotive repair, and construction to name a few.”
Update From Last Year
In the past year alone, the W2W program supported 765 students at the Estill County and Lee County Area Technology Centers (ATCs) in Kentucky, the Lee County and Tazewell County Career and Technical Centers (CTCs) in Virginia, and the White County High School Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) program in Georgia.
“In 2025, Americans Helping Americans® invested $60,000 to help 600 students achieve their goals,” Cameron stated. “Our support lent a hand in top-place finishes in SkillsUSA competition, gifting students with excellent résumé accolades.
“Dozens of students have already been hired in the career fields of their dreams, and nurses have been given the equipment to start conducting their field work, assisting the elderly in nursing homes and interning with hospitals they one day hope to work for.
“Graduating students are literally given the tools they need to succeed in their professions by these grants.”
Last year, a nursing student at the White County High School (WCHS) in Georgia told us that she has “chosen to pursue a career in nursing because of my passion for helping others and my fascination with the human body’s functions and abilities.
“The scrubs and stethoscope will help me in my future career and current internship by providing me with the necessities for a successful nursing career.
“The Americans Helping Americans® program is exceptionally kind for providing grants to purchase necessary materials for many American youth to start their successful careers.
“I am beyond grateful for this act of kindness! Thank you so much for supporting my future nursing career!”
WCHS work-based Learning Coordinator Kathy London also wanted to “take a moment to express my heartfelt appreciation for your generosity” to the supporters of Americans Helping Americans®.
“The kindness shown by Americans Helping Americans® has opened many meaningful conversations with our students.
“They are often deeply moved that someone they’ve never met would care enough to invest in their future and provide the tools they need to succeed in their chosen careers.
“Your organization’s support has truly provided opportunities to speak encouragement, hope, and purpose into their lives. Thank you again for your continued generosity and partnership in making a lasting difference for our students.”
Goals For This Year
For 2026, we are increasing the W2W budget to $75,000 “to continue funding this critical program to enact generational change for these students in this region of America,” says Cameron. Of that amount, $60,000 will be to support existing W2W schools, and $10,000 to continue supporting our grassroots partners’ vocational tutoring endeavors.
“Without this financial support, students would have a tougher time coming up with funds needed to pursue their career,” adds Cameron. “These funds give students the confidence, resources, and credentials they need to step directly into meaningful, good-paying careers that uplift entire families.
“In a region where opportunity can feel out of reach, this program offers a tangible path forward.”
This year at the Lee County ATC, principal Craig Herald reported in December that during this quarter, Health Science students received scrubs, shoes, and watches as part of their career preparation.
In addition, he reported that more than 200 Health Science students from the region attended and competed in the 2nd Annual HOSA competition supported by its W2W grant, and 40 nursing and business students presented their leadership and career options to the community during the ATC’s Student Showcase.
A former Lee County ATC welding student reported that not only did the welding tools that he received from the Americans Helping Americans® W2W grant help him out “tremendously while in school and out. The tools the grant provided me with helped me get the welding job at Link-Belt (Cranes, an American manufacturer of heavy construction equipment in Lexington, KY).”
Another former student reported that the W2W grant “allowed me to earn my CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) certificate, medical office assistant certification, an,d along with other hands-on opportunities in the healthcare field.
“Being able to be a part of the amazing programs in the Lee County Area and Technology Center has truly shaped me into the person I am today. Opportunities like getting scrubs and other needed supplies for my future career have truly been so beneficial to not only me but also my other peers.”
