bookkeeping, and stenography to help women secure jobs in New York City’s rapidly growing business community. This training qualified women for the better paying positions in offices that were a welcome alternative to factory work. In 1902 the school had 1002 students with 497 in Dressmaking, 272 in Stenography and Type- writing, and 233 in Cooking. Over the years, the school evolved into a secretarial school that prepared young women for careers in the business world. From 1898 to 1962, over 70,000 women received training. New Location In the early 1960s part of Fordham University was to be located in the new Lincoln Center complex, necessitating that the Trustees of the Institute find another facility to house the school. Under the leadership of Grace Institute President J. Peter Grace, grandson of William Russell Grace and chairman and chief executive officer of W. R. Grace & Co., the Institute chose to construct a new school on Second Avenue between 64th and 65th Streets. The new 14-story construction included three floors for the school. In 2015 Grace Institute purchased a floor in 40 Rector Street, on the 14th floor, and renovated it from scratch. Using the latest technology, Grace continues to offer classes in Administrative Professional (includes internships) and Patient Services Representatives: where they cover the full range of computer competencies, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook; social media; cloud computing and automation; plus typing for speed and accuracy. Continuing as a tuition-free, nonsectarian school, Grace Institute programs attracted women of all ages and from all walks of life who lived in the greater New York metropolitan area. Today A day and evening program is offered in business skills emphasizing computers, keyboarding, business writing, and more. Students learn personal skills such as interviewing and resume-writing techniques. All women must have a high school diploma or GED, be fluent in English, and be eligible to work in the United States. Grace Students come from diverse racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds and range in age from late 18 to 64. Since 1897, over 100,000 women have graduated from Grace. References External links http://www.graceinstitute.org Universities and colleges in New York City Philanthropic organizations based in the United States