Houston Nonprofit BridgeYear Wins Grant to Bring Hands-On HVAC Career Program to More Schools
On October 24, 2026, Houston nonprofit BridgeYear announced a grant from the Comfort Systems USA Foundation to expand the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) technician module of its hands-on Career Test Drive program to more schools across the Houston area.
BridgeYear works to connect underserved young people with career and education pathways to economic stability and independence. Its career-exploration classes bring physical simulation equipment into classrooms so students can try real job tasks before deciding — troubleshooting automotive circuits, simulating blood draws on lab rigs, wiring mock circuits and more.
Co-founder and executive director Victoria Chen said many students have never had the chance to picture themselves in the HVAC trade, and that the grant puts real tools in students' hands, helping them discover opportunities they had never considered and see a practical path to a solid income. HVAC technicians are in steady demand in the Houston area, and the new funding is expected to let thousands more students try the trade, giving them a more concrete reference point for career choices after graduation.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：休斯顿市中心。图片来源：Wikimedia Commons（自由授权）。 / Photo: Downtown Houston, via Wikimedia Commons (free license).
