Second Chance Expands Team With Addition of Two Seasoned Development Professionals

July 27, 2012 (Press-News.org) Second Chance, a San Diego-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to getting people off the streets and into the workforce through job readiness training programs, is pleased to announce the addition of two new team members to its development department. As the organization enters a new fiscal year, Trisha Gooch and Maureen Polimadei will drive the fundraising needs of the organization to continue helping at-risk youth, adults, veterans, former substance abusers and formerly incarcerated persons find employment.

Trisha Gooch, CFRE, Director of Development & Community Relations
As director of development & community relations, Trisha is responsible for driving the fundraising efforts and overall strategic plans for Second Chance. In June, she earned her CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) designation, joining only 5,300 other fundraising professionals throughout the world who have earned this certification.

Acting, singing and dancing first launched Trisha's career, but after spending 35 years in the entertainment industry, Trisha returned to school to pursue a new passion in nonprofit fundraising. She earned a degree in writing from the City University of New York and went on to serve in development roles at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Mainly Mozart, National Alliance on Mental Illness in San Diego and, most recently, as director of development for The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank.

Maureen Polimadei, Senior Development Associate/ Community Outreach
As a senior development associate and community outreach coordinator for Second Chance, Maureen is responsible for managing internal and external communications initiatives, including the nonprofit's newsletter, special events, social media, volunteer programs and community partnerships.

A seasoned fundraising professional, Maureen joined the Second Chance development team following positions with Volunteer San Diego, San Diego Hunger Coalition, The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank and The Salvation Army. Maureen graduated from the University of San Diego with a degree in communications.

Maureen is also a founding and current board member of SuperFood Drive, a local nonprofit that educates the community about the health benefits of eating nutrient-dense foods and works to ensure the accessibility of health food to all people, especially those in need.

Since its founding, Second Chance has graduated more than 5,000 individuals who are now working and paying taxes. Seventy percent of Second Chance graduates find employment within three months. Five university-performed, independent studies demonstrate that 70 percent of those remain employed for at least two years after completing workforce training. Second Chance estimates that its clients have saved the government more than $400 million in avoided costs of social services. More significant, Second Chance graduates have paid more than $100 million in state and federal income taxes and that amount does not include other financial gains for the region from through the graduates' participation in the economy.

For more information about Second Chance and opportunities to donate or volunteer, visit http://www.secondchanceprogram.org/ or call the development team at (619) 839-0950.

About Second Chance:
Established in 1993, Second Chance is a San Diego-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) dedicated to empowering people to change their lives and strengthen communities. Through its workforce readiness training and job placement programs and services, the nonprofit organization gives individuals a second chance at becoming contributing members of society, improving public health, safety and financial stability. Second Chance serves at-risk youth, adults, veterans, former substance abusers, and formerly incarcerated persons. Second Chance programs result in a more stable community, a reduction in government costs, and a powerful response to the State of California's prison realignment program. For more information, visit http://www.secondchanceprogram.org.