Key Highlights

• Best Buy is investing $2 million to organizations across Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York City and the Twin Cities.
• The funding will support programs that help young people build skills, gain hands-on experience and prepare for quality, tech-enabled careers.
• By investing in local organizations, the funding aims to connect more young people with mentorship, career development and work-based learning opportunities.

This fall, Best Buy is investing $2 million to support community-based programs that help young people learn critical skills, gain hands-on experience and explore tech-enabled careers. The funding will support organizations in Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York City and the Twin Cities.

As technology continues to reshape the workforce and employer needs evolve, young people need more than access to technology. They also need opportunities to explore their interests, learn from others and apply what they know in real-world settings. Through this funding, Best Buy is supporting programs designed to provide those experiences and help young people prepare for what comes next.

"We believe every young person deserves the opportunity to build a brighter future," said Olivia Jefferson, vice president of social impact at Best Buy. "By partnering with organizations that understand the unique needs of their communities, we're helping young people gain skills, confidence and experiences that can open doors to long-term career success."

Focusing our impact

Together, Best Buy and the Best Buy Foundation are concentrating their impact across four metro areas: Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York City and the Twin Cities. Each area has an existing network of Best Buy Teen Tech Centers® that support educational and career opportunities for young people through access to the latest technology, mentorship and professional development programs to build confidence and skills for educational and career success. These areas also have strong career pipelines and local organizations deeply connected to their communities and the young people they serve. By investing in organizations rooted in these communities, Best Buy can build on the Foundation's local work and support more young people as they plan for their futures.

Today, technology plays a role in nearly every career. The funding will support programs that help young people learn how to use and innovate with technology in the fields that interest them, from retail and arts to traditional technology-forward roles. Community-based programs include:

• Internships, apprenticeships and other opportunities to learn in a workplace
• Training that can lead to industry-recognized credentials and certifications
• Mentorship and connections with people working in a range of industries
• Hands-on opportunities to practice and apply what they learn
• AI workforce development opportunities that build technology and career readiness skills

Twenty-seven organizations will receive funding including CodeHouse in Atlanta, Television Academy Foundation in Los Angeles, Reel Works in New York City and Dunwoody College of Technology in the Twin Cities.

Learn more about the Best Buy Foundation