Herschend Enterprises, The Harlem Globetrotters parent company and the nation’s largest privately-owned themed attractions corporation, announced it will cover 100% of tuition, fees, and books for its 11,000 employees who choose to pursue further education. The significant investment in employee education will be made through Herschend’s GROW U. program which aims to make it exponentially easier for employees at all levels to pursue their personal and professional dreams through education.
Herschend’s GROW U. officially launches February 24, 2022, for all seasonal, part-time, and full-time employees across its 25 US attractions including The Harlem Globetrotters.
“Herschend’s GROW U. is not only a significant and transformational investment in our employee’s growth but also our love culture in action,” said Andrew Wexler, CEO of Herschend Enterprises. “Herschend is rooted in love – it’s evident at every Herschend property, every day –in the way we treat and support each other, how we Create Memories Worth Repeating for guests, and most importantly, how we care for our employees.”
“As The Harlem Globetrotters brand grows and evolves to reach a new, diverse generation of fans, we want to also empower the growth of everyone on our team,” adds Harlem Globetrotters and Herschend Entertainment Studios President Keith Dawkins. “Lifelong learning is something we believe in as an organization, which is why we are thrilled to ensure access to debt-free education for our employees. In the end, their success is our success.”
HOW IT WORKS
Herschend’s GROW U. offers 11,000 eligible seasonal, part-time and full-time employees and hosts more than 100 fully-funded (100% free) diploma, degree and certificate programs across 30 learning partners in Guild’s Learning Marketplace, including programs in high-demand fields such as business administration and leadership, culinary, finance, technology and marketing. Additionally, the company will provide partial funding, up to $5,250/year, for 150 additional programs in fields including hospitality, engineering, human resources and art design.
Herschend Enterprises selected Guild Education, the nation’s leading education and upskilling platform, to power Herschend’s GROW U. because of their strong reputation for connecting employers and high-value learning providers to create opportunities for America’s workforce. Herschend employees will have access to Guild’s proprietary Learning Marketplace to select from more than 30 learning providers and utilize resources like professional coaches to support their educational journey.