UPWARDLY GLOBAL RECEIVES AWARD FOR ITS HR SOLUTIONS TO CORPORATIONS IN BUILDING ETHNICALLY DIVERSE WORKFORCES

Nonprofit links corporations to untapped hidden talent pool of underemployed immigrant professionals

San Francisco, CA - May 12, 2004 - Upwardly Global announced today it has been awarded with the "Partners in Innovation Award" by the HR Symposium. The award recognizes Upwardly Global, a national nonprofit, for its comprehensive solutions for Fortune 1000 and Fortune 500 companies to successfully manage, build and foster an ethnically diverse workforce.

"Given the current trends towards offshoring and growth of immigrant population, corporations today cannot ignore the business need of incorporating ethnically diverse employees into its workforce," says Patty Woolcock of the HR Symposium. "Upwardly Global's one-of-a-kind model provides the expert guidance and direct link to qualified multi-ethnic jobseekers that HR professionals need to be able to easily and effectively build a diverse workforce."

Upwardly Global's solutions give HR professionals immediate access to an online resume database of pre-screened "graduates" of its career services for educated, experienced immigrants. Through educational and networking events, employers can connect with high potential immigrant jobseekers. More than 40 corporations are currently members of Upwardly Global's Employer Network, including BEA Systems, Wells Fargo, Bearing Point (formerly KPMG) and California State Automobile Association.

"This award is very significant for us. It represents the commitment and shared values of businesses to our mission - to bridge the gap between underemployed immigrant professionals and employers who can benefit from their skills and talents," says Lisa Lepson, Director of Employer Partnerships of Upwardly Global. "It is also testament to the increased focus of the corporate community to create a truly inclusive workforce that utilizes the talents of all of our community members."

The Upwardly Global Annual San Jose Seminar, "Building Successful Partnerships for Immigrant Inclusion" for human resource professionals and corporate executives will be held on June 17, hosted by Agilent Technologies. The seminar will explore current issues related to building diverse workforces and present successful case studies and best practices in immigrant inclusion. For more information, please visit www.upwardlyglobal.org/seminar.

About Upwardly Global

Upwardly Global, a San Francisco-based nonprofit, works to increase ethnic inclusion and diversity in the American workforce by helping highly-skilled immigrants, refugees and asylees to re-build their careers in the United States, while connecting American employers with this untapped pool of qualified job candidates. Upwardly Global offers a full range of career services to immigrant jobseekers, including practical workshops in interviewing, resume writing and job searching, access to professional networks, career counseling and mentoring by American professionals who serve as volunteers. As the premier resource for national employers in developing a diverse workforce, Upwardly Global educates members of its Employer Network on best practices in recruiting, evaluating and integrating immigrants through seminars, access to pre-screened jobseekers with an online database and a comprehensive toolkit, "Winning with World Class Talent". For more information, visit www.upwardlyglobal.org.

About The Human Resource Symposium

The Human Resource Symposium began in 1984 as a way to recognize the contributions of the human resource community while raising money for scholarships in HR in local colleges and universities. Over the years, the HR Symposium has become a forum to bring together business experts, leaders, and human resources professionals to discuss issues and trends affecting HR and the Silicon Valley. Learn more at www.hrsymposium.com.

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Contact:
Valerie Cunningham
650-814-7830
valerie@upwardlyglobal.org