BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF SANTA ANA RECEIVES $10,000 GRANT FROM BANK OF AMERICA TO HELP TEENS GRADUATE AND PLAN FOR THE FUTURE

Grant Funds to Provide One on One Case Management for the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Ana’s Teen Empowerment Strategy – College Bound Program

Santa Ana, Calif. (June 10, 2016) – Boys & Girls Club of Santa Ana received today a $10,000 workforce development grant from Bank of America to support more than 120 teens in the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Ana’s Teen Empowerment Strategy – College Bound program. This program provides one-on-one case management for teens, ensuring that they progress from grade to grade on schedule and are on a path to graduate high school on time with a plan for their future. College Bound helps provide valuable resources to teens so they are prepared for all that life holds once they graduate.

“Bank of America’s generous donation will give teens unprecedented access to academic support and valuable resources they need to place them on the path to success after graduation,” said Robert Santana, CEO, Boys & Girls Club of Santa Ana. “Thanks to community partners like Bank of America, local youth have access to never-before-available opportunities that will help reinforce that college education is attainable.”

The goal of Boys & Girls Club of Santa Ana’s College Bound program is to introduce and expose Club members to the idea and attainability of a college education and prepare them for success after graduation from high school. College Bound is a year round program that introduces and exposes Club members to the idea of college, provides daily academic support, sponsors numerous college pathway activities including important resource acquisition and prepares members for a successful college experience. The program includes one-on-one case management, through which youth receive the guidance, encouragement and resources that they need to set and obtain their educational goals.

Over the course of the program, case managers work with youth to develop academic goals. They guide teens through application and testing procedures, provide academic tutoring, assist with financial aid applications, help with managing deadlines, advocate on their behalf, counsel parents and provide cultural mentoring.

“Empowering teenagers with academic resources and support is crucial in fostering the next generation of leaders,” said Allen Staff, Orange County market president, Bank of America. ”Beginning college is a major transition and by partnering with organizations like Boys and Girls Club of Santa Ana and its college-bound program for teens, we can help set up youth for a successful future.”

The 2016 Bank of America Workforce Development Grant helps provide education opportunities that will put individuals, including young people, on a path to success. Bank of America develops strong partnerships with nonprofit organizations, such as Boys & Girls Club of Santa Ana, bringing collective networks and expertise to help communities grow and thrive.

About Boys & Girls Club of Santa Ana

The Boys & Girls Club of Santa Ana (BGCSA) provides a positive, healthy learning environment for children in one of the most disadvantaged communities in the United States. Since 1954, the Club has brought stability to neighborhoods that have seen drugs, teen pregnancy and gang-related violence rock their foundations. With each year that passes, the curriculum takes progressively longer strides toward strengthening the academic aptitude, the physical fitness, the health awareness, and the career ambitions of Santa Ana’s children, preparing them to graduate high school and become productive citizens. For more information, please call 714-543-5540 or visit boysandgirlsclub.com.

About Bank of America

At Bank of America, we are focused on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors as critical to fulfilling our core purpose of making people’s financial lives better. A commitment to growing our business responsibly is embedded in every aspect of our company, from our policies and practices to our services, products, governance and employee benefits. An important part of that commitment is forming strong partnerships across sectors, including nonprofit organizations serving community needs, bringing our collective networks and expertise to achieve greater impact. We’re proud of our employees’ volunteer efforts, support of diversity and inclusion, and environmental and social responsibility. Across our company, we’re focused on simplifying banking and investing, advancing better money habits and making an impact in communities around the world. Learn more at http://www.bankofamerica.com/about and follow us on Twitter at @BofA_News.