Who We are
The mission of Rise and Shine Inc. is to provide workforce training and jobs in the bakery industry for people with employment barriers. We serve individuals experiencing homelessness, veterans, those in addiction recovery, people formerly incarcerated, youth aging out of foster care, single mothers in poverty and survivors of domestic violence.
At Rise and Shine Bakery we envision a community where individuals facing employment barriers and those looking for a way to get into the workforce, are empowered to build meaningful careers and brighter futures. Through our innovative social enterprise model, we aim to create a thriving and self-sustaining bakery operation that not only delivers exceptional baked goods but also fully funds life-changing workforce training and employment opportunities. We work toward a future where everyone has a chance to rise, shine and succeed.
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Bakery JOB training program Recipe for Success
Critical Ingredients:
- Creating pathways for people to gain skills, earn a living wage and achieve self-sufficiency
- A bakery training program for veterans, people experiencing homelessness, those formerly incarcerated, people in addiction recovery , youth aging out of foster care and single mothers in poverty.
- Four 12-week hard skills bakery training courses in baking and pastry making, annually
- Work readiness program, financial literacy and ServSafe Skills certification
- Full-time case management support to provide wrap-around services that help people overcome their individual challenges
- Provide supportive employment resources
- Partner with employers to assist with job placement
- Create a sustainable operating budget through wholesale and retail sales
Directions: 1. Combine ingredients to create success for individuals through job training
2. Add a caring, supportive environment to help people heal and become successful
3. Fold in opportunities for individuals to grow and become contributing members of the community
4. Blend in peer support to strengthen success
5. Mix them together to develop a replicable social enterprise training program and facility
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Donna Wyatt appointed executive director
Rise and Shine is pleased to announce the promotion of Donna Wyatt as Executive Director of the Rise and Shine Workforce Training Program.
“We are pleased that Donna has accepted this new position”, Elizabeth Kinney, Board President of Rise and Shine said. “Over the last two years Donna has demonstrated her outstanding leadership in overseeing programming, case management, job training, job placement and she has the passion and commitment needed to help individuals with employment barriers get the skills they need to find permanent employment. She demonstrates the leadership qualities needed to take Rise and Shine to the next level and we are excited to welcome her as out new Executive Director.” Donna oversees programming, the bakery operation and general management of Rise and Shine Inc.
Donna came to Rise and Shine in 2023 as an experienced Counseling Manager from Corp Center in Laurel, MD. Her experience there, in addition to her tenure in Counseling at the Woodland Job Corps Center and Program Director at Catholic Charities Villa Maria School made her the perfect candidate as Program Director at Rise and Shine. Under her leadership Rise and Shine has grown, serving more than 100 individuals. Donna has an undergraduate degree in Business Administration, a master’s degree in clinical psychology and is currently completing her PhD in Counseling, Education and Supervision.
Donna said, “I am grateful to the Rise and Shine Board for this opportunity to help grow the program and number of individuals we serve. I look forward to continuing to work with our incredible staff, students, Board of Directors, employer partners and the community as we continue to support our most vulnerable neighbors in finding sustainable employment”
About Rise and Shine
Rise and Shine is a nonprofit workforce training program, teaching professional baking skills and job readiness to individuals with barriers to employment. We serve individuals experiencing homelessness, veterans, those in addiction recovery, people formerly incarcerated, youth aging out of foster care, single mothers in poverty and survivors of domestic violence. We envision a community where individuals facing employment barriers and looking for way to get into the workforce, are empowered to build meaningful careers and brighter futures.
Through our innovative social enterprise model, we aim to create a thriving and sustaining bakery operation that not only delivers baked goods but also fully funds life-changing workforce training and employment opportunities. We work toward a future where everyone has an opportunity to rise, shine and succeed.
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RISE & SHINE BAKERY RECEIVES $1 MILLION MATCHING SUPPORT GRANT FROM THE DUNLEAVY FOUNDATION
We are delighted to announce a transformative $1 million matching grant from the Dunleavy Foundation. This is the second large gift from the Foundation to the organization. This generous commitment allows the next stage of growth of Rise and Shine’s social enterprise programs as they continue their wrap-around workforce training and expand their baking production capabilities.
Keith Dunleavy, Co-Founder of the Dunleavy Foundation, shared, “Rise and Shine’s vision of providing a supportive environment where those who have faced employment barriers in the past can find success and meaning inspires us. Through this matching grant, we hope to encourage others to invest in this highly worthy program that achieves highly needed impact by empowering individuals though an expansion of employment opportunities.”In 2023, the Dunleavy Foundation provided an initial $1 million matching challenge grant to Rise and Shine, Inc. to support the establishment of Rise & Shine Bakery, a social enterprise providing hard skills bakery training accompanied by work readiness classes and other wrap-around support to allow meaningful employment opportunities and job placement for individuals facing employment challenges.
Elizabeth Kinney, President of Rise and Shine, expressed her gratitude, stating, “Words cannot begin to express our appreciation for the Dunleavy Foundation’s continued generosity. We are also grateful to the community for helping us meet the original matching grant challenge and believe that this matching grant will continue to inspire others to join in supporting the critical work we do for members of our community who need it most.”
The Dunleavy Foundation is a private foundation focused on investment in organizations, people, and ideas that promote sense of purpose, self-reliance, impactful leadership, and a lasting benefit to society. For more information about the Dunleavy Foundation go to: www.dunleavyfoundation.org.
Keith Dunleavy, Co-Founder of the Dunleavy Foundation, shared, “Rise and Shine’s vision of providing a supportive environment where those who have faced employment barriers in the past can find success and meaning inspires us. Through this matching grant, we hope to encourage others to invest in this highly worthy program that achieves highly needed impact by empowering individuals though an expansion of employment opportunities.”In 2023, the Dunleavy Foundation provided an initial $1 million matching challenge grant to Rise and Shine, Inc. to support the establishment of Rise & Shine Bakery, a social enterprise providing hard skills bakery training accompanied by work readiness classes and other wrap-around support to allow meaningful employment opportunities and job placement for individuals facing employment challenges.
Elizabeth Kinney, President of Rise and Shine, expressed her gratitude, stating, “Words cannot begin to express our appreciation for the Dunleavy Foundation’s continued generosity. We are also grateful to the community for helping us meet the original matching grant challenge and believe that this matching grant will continue to inspire others to join in supporting the critical work we do for members of our community who need it most.”
The Dunleavy Foundation is a private foundation focused on investment in organizations, people, and ideas that promote sense of purpose, self-reliance, impactful leadership, and a lasting benefit to society. For more information about the Dunleavy Foundation go to: www.dunleavyfoundation.org.
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