Judge Richard S. Bray (far right) takes time out to meet Building Trades Academy YouthBuild instructor Franklin Cobb (far left) and some of the YouthBuild students at the site of the second home being constructed under the YouthBuild program. Front row center: Paul Hammonds and Nancy Soto, back row: Jasper McMickle and Chris Griffin.

“The appeal of this program is that it gives meaningful opportunity for people to better their lives,” said Judge Richard Bray, President of the Beazley Foundation. “They get to learn a trade or vocation they can carry with them wherever they go. The fact they’re actually placed in the marketplace with a job and continue to be tracked after they leave the program makes us feel very comfortable supporting this program.”

The Portsmouth-based Beazley Foundation was established in 1948 by the late Fred W. Beazley as a way to give back to the community. From the beginning, the Foundation has focused on the needs of the community and young people, with a special emphasis on educational pursuits. It has provided $3.5 million in gifts over the past two years and over $68 million since its inception.

The TBA Building Trades Academy has provided training and job placement to over 3,000 students since it started in 1978. Earlier this year, TBA learned most of its funding from the Federal Department of Labor’s Workforce Development Board would be cut.

“With the cut in Federal funds, we are now depending on support from other sources,” said TBA President John W. Ainslie. “This gift from the Beazley Foundation makes a huge difference, not only because it will allow these students to receive this training, but also because it shows us the community recognizes the importance of our program.”