Sandy Springs non-profit helps move women from dependency to self-sufficiency through comprehensive empowerment program

Dateline:

Stamford, Conn. and Apharetta, Ga.

Synchrony Financial  (NYSE: SYF ), a premier consumer financial services company with 80 years of retail heritage, today reaffirmed its longtime commitment to supporting Every Woman Works with a $20,000 donation. Employee members of Synchrony Financial’s Women’s Network will also build on its financial support by continuing to provide volunteers to assist in mentoring women in the organization’s program.

The Women’s Network, one of Synchrony Financial’s seven diversity and inclusion networks, has supported Every Woman Works for more than 10 years. The Women’s Network chose Every Woman Works to support because its mission of moving women from dependency to self-sufficiency aligned with its goals of supporting the professional and personal growth of women, as well as with Synchrony Financial’s citizenship focus to support programs that help working families achieve economic security. 

Every Woman Works’ purpose is to positively change the lives of women that have experienced serious life challenges such as domestic violence, substance abuse and homelessness.  Selected women enter an intensive, six-week program that focuses on job training, building life skills and cultivating self-worth; all with the goal of each woman securing gainful employment upon completion of the program.

The $20,000 check was presented by Synchrony Financial President & CEO Margaret Keane to Every Woman Works founder Tillie O’Neal-Kyles at a ceremony today at Synchrony Financial’s offices in Alpharetta. The money is earmarked to support Every Woman Works’ comprehensive, six-week BEES Program of life skills, financial empowerment, job skills and health and wellness, with a goal of job placement.

“Supporting Every Woman Works allows us to make a real difference to help working families move forward and improve the quality of their lives,” Keane said. “We proudly support this organization that is changing the lives of women in our community for the better.”

The Synchrony Financial Women’s Network volunteers have assisted Every Woman Works by teaching financial literacy, resume writing and interview skills courses for the program. Synchrony volunteers also conduct on-site mock interviews with program participants at the end of their training, a key part of helping them prepare for employment re-entry.

The Women’s Network has also provided prior donations, including funding for a computer lab to help the program participants conduct job searches, prepare resumes and learn computer skills. Donation drives to support Every Woman Works Professional Wardrobe Closet were also conducted to assist program participants obtain clothing for interviews and professional wear.

“We are thrilled by this generous donation and grateful to Synchrony Financial for its continuing support of our programs,” said O’Neal-Kyles. “Synchrony Financial shares our passion for improving its community, and empowering women to reach for more.”

Giving back to the communities in which its employees live and conduct business is an important part of Synchrony Financial’s culture. Employees at the company’s Windward Plaza location have already contributed more than 350 volunteer hours in 2016.

Since 2003, Synchrony Financial has maintained a site in Alpharetta that now consists of more than 600 employees working at two buildings in key functions including risk and underwriting, marketing, finance, collections, IT, sales, client development, operations and human resources.

Editor’s note: Photos of the check presentation and donation (with captions) are available.

About Synchrony Financial     

Synchrony Financial (NYSE: SYF) is one of the nation’s premier consumer financial services companies. Our roots in consumer finance trace back to 1932, and today we are the largest provider of private label credit cards in the United States based on purchase volume and receivables.^*  We provide a range of credit products through programs we have established with a diverse group of national and regional retailers, local merchants, manufacturers, buying groups, industry associations and healthcare service providers to help generate growth for our partners and offer financial flexibility to our customers. Through our partners’ over 350,000 locations across the United States and Canada, and their websites and mobile applications, we offer our customers a variety of credit products to finance the purchase of goods and services. Synchrony Financial (formerly GE Capital Retail Finance) offers private label and co-branded Dual Card^TM credit cards, promotional financing and installment lending, loyalty programs and FDIC-insured savings products through Synchrony Bank. More information can be found at www.synchronyfinancial.com, facebook.com/SynchronyFinancial and twitter.com/SYFNews.

 ^*Source: The Nilson Report (April, 2015, Issue # 1062) - based on 2014 data.

About Every Woman Works

Every Woman Works, Inc. Professional Job Readiness Center is changing the lives of women in metro Atlanta. Each day, the Center empowers, educates, and presents employment opportunities to women struggling with poverty, homelessness, alcoholism, drug abuse, domestic violence, extended unemployment, and rebuilding their lives after incarceration. Its holistic approach coupled with a supportive and therapeutic environment ensures that women develop practical skills, improve their self-confidence, and obtain the financial independence necessary to transform their lives. Every Woman Works, Inc., a non-profit 501c (3) organization, is the vision of Tillie O’Neal-Kyles. Miss Tillie, as she is affectionately known, was inspired to help some of the neediest women in the community after retiring from her own successful career in corporate America. Armed with only her 401K and a prayer, she launched the organization and began providing holistic training based on the same success principles she mastered during her career and coupled them with spiritual values. Now, Every Woman Works, Inc. is celebrating a decade of service to more than 1,600 women and positively impacted the lives of over 4,500 children thanks to your generous support. Your donations help us to achieve our mission of taking women from dependency to self-sufficiency. By positively changing the life of one woman at a time, we transform a family, a community, and ultimately a society. More information can be found at www.everywomanworks.info.

Contact:

 For Synchrony Financial – (855) 791-8007 or media.relations@synchronyfinancial.com

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