As the Valley Industry Association’s Education Foundation prepares to invest in Santa Clarita Valley high school students this fall, the organization was thrilled to receive a surprising investment of its own.

U.S. Bank presented the VIA Education Foundation with a $2,500 grant for its Connecting to Success program. The check was delivered by Mark Velador, branch manager for U.S. Bank in Valencia, and Allison Hollstegge, district manager for U.S. Bank.

The annual Connecting to Success program serves more than 2,500 students from the William S. Hart Union High School District. Over the course of several sessions, Connecting to Success provides students with skills they will need as they enter the workforce, from knowing how to prepare for interviews and dressing for success, to workplace ethics. The sessions are facilitated by more than 80 local business leaders.

“Grants such as this are a huge help in offsetting the cost of making Connecting to Success happen,” VIA President and CEO Kathy Norris said. “It’s also a great show of confidence by the business community in what we are doing to prepare our future community leaders for the workforce.”

Velador, who is also a volunteer for the program, said his interest in Connecting to Success spiked when he learned about the program’s focus on education.

“Connecting to Success teaches young people how to be the leaders of tomorrow,” he said. “U.S. Bank is proud to support VIA’s programs as they provide the building blocks for students to be successful regardless of the type of field they enter after high school. This relationship is a win-win for both U.S. Bank and VIA.”

For more information about VIA’s Connecting to Success program, contact the VIA office at admin@via.org or (661) 294-8088.

About the Valley Industry Association

The Valley Industry Association of Santa Clarita represents business interests throughout the Santa Clarita Valley, providing members the opportunity to network and collaborate on a broad range of business issues. More information about VIA is available at www.via.org.

About U.S. Bank

Every year, the U.S. Bank Foundation provides cash contributions to nonprofit organizations in the grant priority areas of education, economic opportunity, and artistic and cultural enrichment. In 2013 the foundation provided more than $23.4 million in funding. U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB), with $389 billion in assets as of June 30, 2014, is the parent company of U.S. Bank National Association, the 5th largest commercial bank in the United States. The Company operates 3,174 banking offices in 25 states and 5,005 ATMs and provides a comprehensive line of banking, brokerage, insurance, investment, mortgage, trust and payment services products to consumers, businesses and institutions. Visit U.S. Bancorp on the web at usbank.com.