INDUSTRY
Are You Ready to Invest TEN Hours to Shape the Future Workforce?
You don’t have to hire to make an impact — just donate TEN hours to inspire a student and strengthen your local talent pipeline.
THE REALITY:
The reality of donating 10 hours to a student isn’t about volunteering — it’s about building your future talent pipeline.
For too long, many businesses have viewed education as a one-way street — a place that asks for donations or favors but offers little value back.
Give Me TEN changes that.
By donating TEN hours of your time, you’re not giving money — you’re giving opportunity. You’re showing a student what a real career looks like, helping them see a pathway into your industry, and discovering potential employees who could become part of your team.
Those same 10 hours should also be given to your local school or CTE program — to reconnect and rebuild a relationship that benefits both sides.
When business and education work together, everyone wins:
Schools align training with real workforce needs.
Businesses gain visibility, credibility, and access to future talent.
Any size business — large or small — can participate. Donating time, not money, makes a measurable difference.
HOW IT WORKS
STEP 1: CONNECT
Start by reaching out to the instructor who teaches in your industry area — or the school’s Career Development Center, Work-Based Learning Coordinator, or CTE Director.
If you’re unsure who to contact, Give Me TEN can help you identify the right person and make the introduction.
When you connect, ask if the school has any work-based learning programs or is looking for new business partnerships.
Then, offer your time and let them know you’d like to structure your involvement through the Give Me TEN model — a simple, 10-hour experience that’s easy for everyone to manage.
You can say:
“I’d like to donate ten hours to show a student what a career in my business looks like.”
That one conversation is your first step toward turning education into your talent pipeline — and reconnecting business and education in a way that benefits both.
Reach out to your local high school, career center, or CTE program — or contact the Give Me TEN and we’ll help you make the connection.
STEP 2: HOST
Invite a student into your workplace for a total of 10 hours, divided into five short visits of two hours each.
Students observe, participate safely, and learn what real work looks like.
You’ll follow a simple Give Me TEN outline — easy for you, manageable for schools, and valuable for the student.
It fits into your regular schedule without disrupting business operations.
STEP 3: GROW
After those 10 hours, you can choose to:
Offer extended experiences (Tech 50, Earn & Learn, or internships).
Connect with your local Workforce Development Board for funding, training reimbursement, or paid internship programs.
Continue collaborating with your local schools to strengthen your hiring pipeline.
Every business that participates helps rebuild the bridge between education and industry — one student, one experience, one relationship at a time.
WHY IT MATTERS
Does your business already support internships or apprenticeships?
How do you know if they’re working — or if the student is the right fit before you invest time and training dollars?
Many employers struggle with the same challenge.
Traditional programs can be expensive, complicated, and hard to manage.
Give Me TEN provides an easier entry point — a short, structured, low-risk first step toward identifying and developing future talent.
Across the U.S., states like Illinois (HB 3296), Tennessee, Ohio, Texas, Oregon, and California are strengthening these partnerships between schools and industry. You don’t have to wait for a new program — you can start locally, right now