In 2000, Gap Inc. pledged a seven-year, $8 million grant to fund CareerLaunch. This career exploration and mentoring program for teens aims to take some of the guesswork out of education and career decisions. Using an interactive Web site, background materials and volunteer mentors, CareerLaunch exposes teens ages 13–18 to a variety of careers and motivates them to take steps toward reaching their career goals.

The program, available to more than 2,800 Clubs nationwide, incorporates a strong mentoring element with practical resources teens can use. Participants can build skills that will help them get a job today, while researching school and career options for future success. Using the available interactive CareerLaunch Web site, teens can also assess their interests and access job profiles that parallel them.

CareerLaunch provides an excellent opportunity for Gap Inc. employees across the country to work with their local Boys & Girls Clubs. Simple and effective, CareerLaunch is a great tool that allows volunteers to share their knowledge and experience with teens in their communities, letting them imagine what their future could be while helping them take steps to get there.

The Gap "reach" extends across more than 3,100 stores in the United States, Canada, France, Japan and the United Kingdom. Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay area, the global company has four distinct brands – Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy and Piperlime – with revenues topping $14.5 billion.