Made with Love - JD - LBR
Omar Evans in a white W Hotels chef coat washing pots at a stainless-steel kitchen sink at the W Dallas Victory Hotel, kitchen tools hanging overhead

Foster care since 14. His mother battled cancer.

Joined Bridges. Renaissance Dallas. Then six years at the W.

From stewarding to risk officer at W Dallas Victory

OmarW Dallas Victory Hotel & Residences

Read Omar’s full story
Where you come in
Our mission

Our mission is to transform the lives of young adults with disabilities through the power of a job.

01

Prepare

Months of coaching: communication, problem-solving, professionalism. Built around your strengths.

02

Place

Match with employers ready to hire. Not the first opening, the right one.

03

Support

A full year of check-ins: 3, 6, 9, and 12 months.

Why a full year? Most retention failures happen in year one.

Marriott Award of Excellence

Meet Tim.

It’s amazing how much he has inspired me to be better.

Tim’s manager

Read the transcript249 words in the transcript for Tim's story: 2016 Marriott Award of Excellence

My full name is Timothy William Acton. I am the lead banquet server at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center. I've worked for Marriott for 10 years.

It's amazing how much he has inspired me to be better. Tim is the kind of person that shows so much love for what he does. Can you get the coffee for the station, please? Thank you. That smile, that smile can be a miracle sometimes. Last year, I was looking for a way how I could help support Marriott Bridges Foundation. They worked with me throughout my senior year, finding a job with Marriott here at this property. I found out that I could donate money, and I thought that would be a good way of giving back.

I still live in Silver Spring, the house I grew up in. Within the next five years, I'll get my own house. I'll get my own condo. My plan is to work my way up through the ranks with this company. I'd like to be an assistant banquet manager or a banquet manager. Tim is all about the guests and his co-workers. He's always thinking about how he can help both. Past two years, my manager selected me to and scored the award of when he's up the stage. It's going to feel interesting being on the other side of it.

I want to be an example someone with a disability could work their way up with a company like

Marriott.

Built one job at a time
Years since 1989
37
U.S. cities
12
Employers who’ve hired
6,659
Earned by participants since 1990
$150M+
An Atlanta Bridges graduate in a hi-vis safety vest, photographed standing on the factory floor with shelving and work tables behind him.

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