FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 25, 2023
Contact:
Dominique Frascoia
dfrascoia@acteonline.org
Don Wood Foundation Named as an ACTE Business-Education Partnership Award Winner
ALEXANDRIA, VA - The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) and its Board of Directors is pleased to announce the Don Wood Foundation as an ACTE Business-Education Partnership Award Winner. The Business-Education Partnership Award celebrates the contributions and achievements of schools and businesses that aid in the development and maintenance of partnerships supporting high-quality career and technical education (CTE).
The Don Wood Foundation was established in 2018 to honor the legacy of Don Wood, co-founder of 80/20 Inc. The foundation emerged to address the skilled labor shortage in the manufacturing industry and nurture qualities such as leadership development, sales training, and entrepreneurial education. Don Wood envisioned a future where students could pursue fulfilling careers in industrial trades, advanced manufacturing, leadership, and innovation, regardless of the common perception that success relied solely on a four-year degree. His dream encompassed equipping college-bound individuals and nontraditional candidates with the necessary tools, skills, and scholarships to thrive in these crucial fields.
The ongoing partnership between Indiana CTE Districts and the Don Wood Foundation has yielded many positive impacts and innovative outcomes. One significant outcome is the provision of upgraded equipment and materials to enhance CTE pathways in manufacturing, welding, and precision machining. This support has been instrumental in improving the quality of education and training for students in these areas, ultimately preparing them for the workforce.
The Don Wood Foundation will be recognized alongside other national ACTE award winners on November 29, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. ET, at the annual ACTE Awards Gala. For more information on the Excellence Awards and the Awards Gala, visit http://www.acteonline.org/awards.
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About ACTE
The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) is the nation’s largest not-for-profit association committed to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for successful careers. ACTE represents the community of CTE professionals, including educators, administrators, researchers, school counselors, guidance and career development professionals and others at all levels of education. ACTE is committed to excellence in providing advocacy, public awareness and access to resources
About Don Wood Foundation
The Don Wood Foundation is a private foundation, established in 2018 by Don Wood, founder of 80/20, Inc., that serves and supports innovators, leaders, collaborators, and skilled workers with the potential to create and sustain opportunities in manufacturing. The Foundation partners with non-profits and educational institutions to provide sustained investment that supports the development of a diverse workforce through exposure, education, and training to create strong communities rooted in the advancement of manufacturing.
