Ed. Note: the following is a news release courtesy of the Valley Industry Association. 

U.S. Bank has given the Valley Industry Association Education Foundation a financial boost just in time for VIA to invest in Santa Clarita Valley high school students this fall.

Mark Velador, branch manager for U.S. Bank in Valencia, presented the $5,000 grant for VIA’s Connecting to Now in its 14th year, Connecting to Success serves more than 2,500 students from the William S. Hart Union High School District. Over the course of several sessions, Connecting to Success provides students with skills they will need as they enter the workforce, with topics such as “Building Your Image for Success,” “Money Smarts” and “Ethics: Doing the Right Thing.” The sessions are facilitated by more than 80 local business leaders.

Related: Valley Industry Association Announces 2015 VIA Awards Nominees

“We are thrilled to put our support behind efforts that produce results for young adults as they prepare for the workforce,” Velador said. “The topics covered in Connecting to Success – especially those around ethics and doing the right thing – are particularly meaningful building blocks for students to be successful regardless of the type of field they enter after high school.“

VIA President and CEO Kathy Norris said the grant is a welcome shot in the arm for the program.

“This is a phenomenal gift to the program. Grants such as this are a huge help in offsetting the cost of making Connecting to Success happen,” she said. “It’s also a great vote of confidence by the business community in what we are doing to prepare students for the workforce.”

For more information about VIA’s Connecting to Success program, contact the VIA office at admin@via.org or (661) 294-8088.

About the Valley Industry Association

The Valley Industry Association of Santa Clarita represents business interests throughout the Santa Clarita Valley, providing members the opportunity to network and collaborate on a broad range of business issues. More information about VIA is available at the website.

Every year, the U.S. Bank Foundation provides cash contributions to nonprofit organizations in the grant priority areas of education, economic opportunity, and artistic and cultural enrichment. In 2014 the foundation provided more than $23.5 million in funding. U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB), with $419 billion in assets as of June 30, 2015, is the parent company of U.S. Bank National Association, the fifth largest commercial bank in the United States. The company operates 3,164 banking offices in 25 states, 5,020 ATMs. Its 24-hour service through phone, mobile and online banking make it easy for customers to manage their money any time. U.S. Bank believes in putting people first, and its dedication to making ethical decisions and doing the right thing is at the heart of its business. U.S. Bank is one of two banks in the United States to be named as “2015 World’s Most Ethical Companies” by Ethisphere. Visit U.S. Bank on the web at www.usbank.com.