PCMA Foundation has launched the Accelerating Reskilling initiative, a massive fundraising campaign designed to help event industry professionals recover, adapt and thrive through the pandemic and beyond.

Launched on Aug. 5, the campaign’s goal is to raise $250,000 by the end of 2020 to provide scholarships for the immediate reskilling of 1,000 event professionals, supplier professionals, young professionals, faculty and current students with the new and updated skill sets they will need for career recovery and success. 

“Together as a community, we can bring these educational opportunities to our industry,” said Valerie Sumner, chair of the PCMA Foundation. “We cannot do this alone; it will take all of us working together, towards one goal, for our industry to recover.”

A committee comprising PCMA members will review and select recipients based on submitted applications. Participants in the campaign will receive access to PCMA’s Digital Event Strategist certification, CMP Online prep course, Convening Leaders 2021 access, tuition and more.  

The new campaign is part of PCMA’s Recovery Discovery initiative, an ongoing research, reskilling, event experimentation and education campaign designed to help PCMA members and global stakeholders navigate their businesses and careers during and after COVID-19.  

Organizations are encouraged to contribute and demonstrate their support, with donations of $1,000 or more to be recognized by the PCMA Foundation at the Accelerating Reskilling digital event in September.

“We know funds are short for many of us, [but] even the smallest contribution has tremendous reach,” Sumner said. “Through the efforts of our community, we can accelerate recovery for our entire industry.”

Donate here or mail checks to PCMA Foundation, 35 E. Wacker Dr., Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60601.