ORLANDO, FL – June 28, 2016 – The YMCA of Central Florida today announced that it has received a $30,000 grant from Bank of America in support of YMCA Teen Achievers.
The grant will help improve college and career readiness among more than 500 at-risk teens who attend nine Central Florida high schools.
For 26 years, YMCA Teen Achievers has provided additional mentoring, academic support, college and career preparation, and opportunities for community service to more than 12,800 young people. Fully 90% of Teen Achievers graduate from high school and go on to earn college degrees, attain professional certifications or join the military.
“The YMCA of Central Florida is deeply grateful to Bank of America for this generous grant,” said Shannon Matthews, YMCA Vice President of Youth Development & Education. “YMCA Teen Achievers is an important part of the Y’s continuum of Youth Development programs that help young people thrive from cradle to career. Many of Central Florida’s leading bankers, lawyers, teachers and business people are former Teen Achievers who continue to give back and mentor the next generation.”
Over the past 15-plus years, Bank of America has contributed more than $640,000 to the YMCA of Central Florida. This support has enabled the Y to further its mission to improve lives and strengthen communities through its focus on Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility.
“In Central Florida, we are fortunate that the YMCA’s Teen Achievers program helps young people understand the importance of high school graduation and secondary education as well as giving them a chance to learn about potential career paths,” said Jodie Hardman, senior vice president and Central Florida market manager, Bank of America. “Working together, we can connect youngsters to opportunity and improve their ability to lead financially stable lives. That is why Bank of America is happy to present the YMCA Teen Achievers program with a $30,000 Workforce Development and Education Grant.”
About the YMCA of Central Florida
The YMCA of Central Florida is one of the area’s largest nonprofits, serving more than 415,000 Central Floridians per year through a focus on Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility. With a Christian-based mission to improve lives and communities, it operates 27 YMCA Family Centers across Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Brevard, Lake and Marion counties. This mission is expanded beyond the four walls of the Y through community-based programs that combat chronic disease, boost children’s after-school safety and learning, and strengthen fragile families. In 2015, this YMCA Association of over 1,800 employees engaged 23,000 donors, volunteers and advocates who joined together for the common good. To ensure that the Y remains available and accessible to all, the association also provided $5.4 million in program and membership assistance to more than 50,000 children, families and seniors.
For more information about the Y, visit www.ymcacentralflorida.org or call (407) 896-9220.
About Bank of America
Bank of America is one of the world's leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 47 million consumer and small business relationships with approximately 4,700 retail financial centers, approximately 16,000 ATMs, and award-winning online banking with approximately 33 million active users and more than 20 million mobile users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 3 million small business owners through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
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