A local veterans group has teamed with a major corporation and large trade group to shore up the potential hiring pool for the skilled trades.

Detroit Chapter #9 of the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA9) will provide $220 each to 62 students at the A. Phillip Randolph Technical High School. The funds, which will be presented Tuesday as part of a drive-through ceremony at 17101 Hubbell St. from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., will help the students purchase equipment for jobs in skilled trades, such as carpentry, plumbing and electrical work.

“Our organization is committed to improving the quality of life in our community, and giving young people support as they start their careers is one way to do that,” explained Paul Palazzolo, president of VVA9. “This donation makes that entry just a little easier because it takes a purchase item off their hands.”

In 2019, the Detroit Vietnam Veterans group, plus Carhartt and the Home Builders Association of Southeastern Michigan’s Charitable and Educational Foundation, donated $10,000 each to support students who pursue careers in the building trades. The donations are being done in partnership with the Detroit Public Schools Foundation.

Graduates who are hired into a skilled trades position will also receive gift cards from Carhartt and the Home Builders Association of Southeastern Michigan’s foundation.

To learn more about the Detroit Public Schools Foundation, visit http://www.dpsfdn.org/.

ABOUT THE VVA CHAPTER: Organizers for Chapter 9 trace the group’s history to the mid-1970s, when returning veterans linked up to focus on health and other needs. For more, see https://vva9.org/.

ABOUT HBA AND ITS CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION: Headquartered in Bingham Farms, HBA represents 1,400 builders, remodelers, developers and suppliers in the single-family home construction industry. HBA is affiliated with the Home Builders Association of Michigan in Lansing and the National Association of Home Builders in Washington, D.C. The mission of its foundation is to conduct charitable activities that promote and improve the availability of housing for families in Southeastern Michigan and provide educational opportunities related to the housing industry.

ABOUT CARHARTT INC.: Established in 1889, Carhartt is a global premium workwear brand with a rich heritage of developing rugged products for workers on and off the job. Headquartered in Dearborn and  with more than 5,500 associates worldwide, Carhartt is family-owned and managed by the descendants of the company’s founder, Hamilton Carhartt. For more information, visit www.carhartt.com.