Many students don’t know what they want to do.

Four summers, four grades, four intensive, real-world career development programs.

75% of high school graduates are not ready to make college or career decisions.* Pay It Forward 365 was created to help students in grades 8 through 11 learn about the many career options they have. We believe that the more they know, the better decisions they can make.

Pay It Forward 365 pays it forward every time a student makes a more informed decision about their own future, a future that improves their lives 365 days a year. We help kids reach for the stars with career development programs designed to prepare students for their future.

Here’s how Pay It Forward 365 works.

Pay It Forward 365 is a career and educational development program that exposes high school students (grades 8-11) to a variety of career, cultural and educational opportunities in their local community, that are not readily accessible to them. It is our belief that students involved in this program will benefit from being exposed to every positive cultural, educational and career opportunity that their community has to offer them. Students will be filled with a future full of hope and inspiration about who they are becoming. This program will develop a positive vision about their future.

Each year features a different category of career directions to make up a comprehensive career development program by the time they complete the full four years.

YEAR 1: GRADE 8

UrbanWorks will expose the students to the invaluable, important urban support services such as City Hall, police academy, fire department, EMS, and public utilities, providing a better connection and understanding about how their city works.

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YEAR 2: GRADE 9

TechWorks will take the students to the tech community where they live representing technology companies including software, hardware, telecommunications, and energy, showing the value and importance of tech in the community.

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YEAR 3: GRADE 10

TradeWorks will give the students an opportunity to see the blue-collar trades in their community, such as hospitality, construction, military, culinary, and cosmetology, experiencing other valuable career opportunities other than college.

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YEAR 4: GRADE 11

ProWorks is the final year of this program. Students will visit the professional white-collar community like law, architecture, medicine, and finance and learn more about applying to colleges and opportunities to make it affordable.

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Pay It Forward 365 is forward-thinking.

Whether pursuing a trade or more schooling, our career development programs prepare students for the real world.

The Pay It Forward approach is a realistic one that’s based around giving high school students the knowledge, guidance, and assistance they need to make their next, most important choice.

Unlike most career development programs aimed at high schoolers, we acknowledge that a four-year university isn’t the only option. We help those who will go to college AND those who will not. We’ll also assist students in applying to college, as well as those who choose a different path and prefer a professional school.

The curriculum includes visits from local colleges to speak with students and their parents about their institutions and admission process; how to apply for financial aid, grants, and scholarships; and in preparing for the SAT or ACT admission exam.

We Help Kids Reach For The Stars.

Pay It Forward 365 was created for this purpose.

  • WHO? Students in grades 8-11
  • WHAT? A week-long education program that exposes high school students to a variety of career options in their local community
  • WHERE? The greater Cleveland area
  • HOW? A 4-phase curriculum that features visits to and insights about a variety of career types (see detail in next section)
  • WHY? Help them gain the knowledge to better plan for their future, while developing community growth and personal enrichment (see detail in next section)
  • WHEN? One week during their summer vacation, starting in 2027

Pay It Forward 365 pays it forward every time a student makes a more informed decision about their own future, a future that improves their lives 365 days a year.

Students, parents, schools, and the community all benefit.

Let’s help students reach for the stars with Pay It Forward 365 career development programs.

The more prepared students are for the future … the more knowledgeable they are about career options … and the more interested they are in pursuing a particular path — the better students they will become.

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