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Bank of America Commits $10 Million to Success By 6
Bank of America Commits $10 Million to Success By 6
Published 03-15-01
Submitted by Bank of America Corporation
The Bank of America Foundation today announced $10 million in grants to United Way of America in support of Success By 6® initiatives across the country. The grants, which are the third phase of a $50 million commitment, are the largest the Foundation has made and one of the largest corporate grants in history to the United Way.
"Success By 6 is the clearest example of how United Way, the business community and other key partners work together to secure a brighter future for our children," said Ken Lewis, president and chief operating officer of Bank of America. "Very simply, few things are more important than ensuring that every child enters school ready to learn."
This year, 109 United Way agencies in communities throughout the Bank of America franchise received grants. (Follow this link for a list of grant winners.) The grants will provide funding to develop or enhance Success By 6 initiatives. Since 1998, the number of local United Ways engaged in Success By 6 has increased from 175 to more than 300.
Promoting school readiness, ensuring healthy families and fostering responsible parenthood remain the top three areas of focus for Success By 6. Communities across the country are engaged in developing resources, finding solutions and increasing public awareness of children's issues. Following are a few examples:
In San Antonio, Tex., more than 21,000 children are enrolled and receiving services through the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Forty-eight workshops for working parents were held to educate families about the value of health insurance and to ensure that every child has coverage.
In Sacramento, Calif., children were screened in one community for kindergarten readiness. Results showed an average of only 20% were ready to enter school. After a five-week readiness program focused on social, physical and cognitive development, individual scores increased to 40%. Plans are in place to increase the program to eight weeks.
In Nashville, Tenn., a Success By 6 grant funded a mobile clinic, providing free health screening to more than 10,000 children annually between the ages of 6 months and 5 years old.
In Baltimore, Md., seven communities identified as high risk participated in a community-planning program funded by a Success By 6 grant. More than 1,300 families were served through parenting classes, case management services for pregnant women and early childhood development workshops.
United Way of America is a national service organization, providing training, resources and technical assistance to 1,400 member United Ways. In 1999, United Way raised $3.77 billion supporting more than 45,000 agencies that deliver programs and services to millions.
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 areas where the company conducts business. The Foundation's funding priorities are providing educational opportunities, building inclusive communities and promoting cultural outreach. Last year, Bank of America received the Spirit of America Award, the United Way of America's highest honor for a company with outstanding corporate community involvement.
One of the world's leading financial services companies, Bank of America is committed to making banking work for customers like it never has before. Through innovative technologies and the ingenuity of its people, Bank of America provides individuals, small businesses and commercial, corporate and institutional clients across the United States and around the world new and better ways to manage their financial lives. The company enables customers to do their banking and investing whenever, wherever and however they choose through the nation's largest financial services network, including more than 4,400 domestic offices and 13,000 ATMs, as well as 38 international offices, a telephone banking network that handles over a half billion calls a year and an Internet Web site that provides online access for over 3 million customers, more than any other bank.
