The Bank of America Foundation announced it has contributed $30,000 in Community Catalyst Grants to six local health and human services organizations that focus on early childhood development at the grassroots level. As part of the bank's Community Catalyst program, each organization received a $5,000 grant for the second quarter of 2000.

"Study after study clearly indicates that success in school and life depends on positive child development and education before the age of six," said Liam McGee, president, Bank of America-Southern California. "At Bank of America, we are committed to reaching out to the youngest and most at-risk members of our communities. By providing educational tools and resources, we can help ensure that these children receive the quality childhood development they need in order to be successful adults."

The six local recipients were nominated for the grants by the bank's Southern California associates and selected by local Bank of America Foundation committee members. The recipients are:

The Center for Childhood, located in Los Angeles, focuses its outreach efforts on the Kanjobal community, indigenous people from Guatemala, who cannot speak either Spanish or English. The nonprofit has organized a parent education program that trains six members of the Kanjobal community to lead 12-week parenting classes, which will be supervised by an experienced parent educator. Class topics include child development, advocating for a child, preventing gang involvement and acculturation of children.

Conejo Free Clinic, located in Thousand Oaks, provides health and legal services to people who may not otherwise have access to these services due to financial, language, cultural or lifestyle barriers. The clinic plans to use its grant funds for immunization and pediatric programs, serving children of all ages from the west San Fernando Valley to Ventura County.

Children Today, located in Long Beach, serves children of homeless families in the City of Long Beach by providing supplemental educational programs, including a preschool program. The nonprofit will use the Foundation's funds to purchase educational supplies and equipment, food and personal hygiene items for the children. Children Today anticipates that it will serve more than 200 children annually.

Child Abuse Prevention Center, located in Riverside, operates a unique child abuse prevention program where 95% of the services delivered are from community members helping one another. The Child Abuse Prevention Center will use its funds to hire a new parent aide trainer, who will train and monitor five additional parent aides. The nonprofit will be able to serve 30 more children who have been abused or are at very high risk of being abused.

Child Abuse Prevention Foundation, located in San Diego, operates a Development Screening Program that identifies developmental delays in abused children up to age 6. The children then receive treatment to help them as they enter school and adjust to their new foster homes. The Child Abuse Prevention Foundation has also operated a 24-hour emergency shelter for abused and abandoned children since 1994.

Camp Fire Boys and Girls -- Orange County Council provides a wide variety of programs that address current issues and social problems facing youth and families today. In the past year, the nonprofit served nearly 24,000 children and teens throughout Orange County, and more than 1,000 parents. The Foundation's grant will support a caregiver training program called Special Sitters. The Camp Fire program recruits and trains teenagers to sit for children who have special needs, such as physical, mental, learning or emotional disabilities, or debilitating illnesses.
In 1999, the Bank of America Foundation made its largest contribution ever -- and one of the most generous corporate grants in history -- when it committed $50 million to child development through United Way's Success by 6® initiative. By cutting across boundaries to bring together community partners with an interest in assisting children, this initiative may take the form of advocating literacy, providing health and childcare, supporting legislation or making health insurance or parenting skills training available to families. The grant is allocated over five years to United Way agencies that plan, implement or sustain these efforts.

Earlier this year, the Foundation contributed $250,000 each to the United Way of Greater Los Angeles and the United Way of Orange County for their Success by 6® initiatives.

The Bank of America Foundation contributes financial assistance to nonprofit institutions and organizations that enhance the quality of life and promote the public interest in the areas where the company conducts its business. The primary focus of the Foundation is education. Other major areas of giving include health and human services, community development, and arts and culture. On April 15, the Bank of America received the 1999 Spirit of America Award, the United Way of America's highest honor for a company with outstanding corporate community involvement.

Bank of America, with $680 billion in assets, is the largest bank in the United States. It has full-service operations in 21 states and the District of Columbia and provides financial products and services to 30 million households and two million businesses, as well as providing international corporate financial services for business transactions in 190 countries. The company's stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York, Pacific and London stock exchanges, and certain shares are listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

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