Tradebe Environmental Services and Boys & Girls Club: A Partnership for Youth Empowerment

Tradebe Environmental Services Partners with Boys & Girls Club of East Chicago

In a move to bolster youth empowerment through education and career readiness, Tradebe Environmental Services US has taken a significant step by sponsoring the 2025 Youth Summit with a generous contribution of $25,000. This event, held from July 22 to July 25 at the Boys & Girls Club of East Chicago, marks the third consecutive year of this impactful summit, aimed at enhancing the life skills and career preparedness of young participants.

Tradebe's partnership with the Boys & Girls Club aligns perfectly with its global commitment to empowering communities locally. The company’s generous investment has aimed to expand teen programming, which includes funding for the addition of a dedicated teen coordinator at the East Chicago Club. This coordinator is pivotal in facilitating career-building activities, seminars, and essential workshops that cover topics such as resume building, interview skills, and STEM-related education.

As part of the summit experience, Tradebe helped launch a new $500 Leadership Scholarship. This award is designated for the student who exemplifies core values that resonate with both Tradebe and the Boys & Girls Club, which include productivity, responsibility, caring, integrity, and dynamic engagement. The scholarship is aimed at covering various academic or career development expenses, including college or trade school costs, certification programs, leadership activities, and even essential school supplies.

Understanding that financial barriers often hinder access to crucial opportunities, Tradebe further committed to ensuring entry costs were waived for students attending the summit who were not already members of the Boys & Girls Club. This approach made the summit accessible, allowing more students to receive the benefits of this enriching experience. Furthermore, the event included a hands-on bicycle-building component where participants assembled bicycles intended for donation to children in the local community, fostering a spirit of giving and community involvement.

Jill Long, EVP of People & Culture at Tradebe Environmental Services US, emphasized the importance of such initiatives, stating, "We believe in the importance of creating opportunities for young people to grow, lead, and succeed in our communities. By investing in workforce readiness and supporting the Boys & Girls Clubs, we hope to inspire more companies to step up and help prepare local youth for the future."

The President and CEO of Boys & Girls Club of East Chicago, Mike Jessen, also shared his gratitude, noting, "Corporate partnerships are beneficial to all concerned. Businesses can develop a pipeline of potential new employees when they partner with our amazing teens at our ten Clubs across the region. We are incredibly thankful to Tradebe, the first local business to join us in building this new mutually beneficial corporate partnership strategy, which includes financial support and public service. Tradebe is investing not just directly in our kids, but in both the current and future success of their community."

Tradebe Environmental Services has a notable presence in the United States, having operated for over 20 years. Based in Chicago, IL, the company has grown to encompass more than 40 locations and employs over 900 individuals. Its business model emphasizes safety and compliance, enabling Tradebe to recycle over 90,000 tons of waste each year, which plays a vital role in helping clients meet their sustainability objectives.

Founded with a commitment to creating a more sustainable planet, Tradebe continues to uphold strong corporate values such as integrity and responsibility. As the company further engages with the local community through initiatives like the Youth Summit, it solidifies its role as an agent of change, focusing not just on environmental services, but also on uplifting the next generation.

For companies looking to make a positive impact through social responsibility, Tradebe’s partnership with the Boys & Girls Club serves as a visionary example of how corporate entities can engage in meaningful community support, ultimately paving the way for a brighter future for local youth.