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Bank of America donates $50,000 to С��è��ý Foundation

Photos and story by James Hill

The Grants Office at С��è��ý has announced an award of $50,000 from Bank of America to the С��è��ý Foundation.

The award will provide partial tuition for at least 40 students pursuing a variety of career pathways in the accounting, administrative, facilities maintenance, and healthcare fields. Bank of America employees will volunteer to provide students with financial literacy training and collaborate on a service project.

“This is the largest corporate cash gift to the С��è��ý Foundation in our 50th anniversary year and we are grateful to Bank of America for stepping up to fill the gap during this economic downturn,” said С��è��ý District President Preston Pulliams.

The Career Pathways Program connects students to educational opportunities for the purpose of gaining employment and continuing education. Career Pathway Certificates are 12 to 44 credit “stackable” certificates that ensure Oregonians can obtain the skills, certificates and degrees needed to enter and advance in high-demand occupations. (“Stackable” certificates are like a ladder where the student builds certification by steps in chosen fields). This model has been recognized as a promising practice by groups such as the National Skills Coalition, the Workforce Strategy Center, the Community College Research Center and the League for Innovation in the Community College.

“We’re so proud to support Career Pathways,” said Roger Hinshaw, Bank of America President for Oregon and Southwest Washington. “Programs like this have an immediate impact on our community, putting people back to work and fueling the economic vitality of our region.”

Hinshaw was one of the drivers of Portland Business Alliance’s Value of Jobs coalition, which promotes healthy community growth through private-sector jobs and more living-wage jobs.

Bank of America is Portland’s seventh largest corporate philanthropist, giving $2.4 million to charities across Oregon and Southwest Washington in 2010. Locally, a significant portion of the bank’s philanthropy focuses on workforce development and educational attainment – and this recent Career Pathways gift represents the largest investment in a single job-skills program this year. Monique Barton, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager for Bank of America, cited С��è��ý’s track record of success and the flexibility of the Career Pathways program as a driver for this support.

For further information about this grant and Career Pathways, contact Andrew Roessler, Workforce and Economic Development manager, at aroessle@pcc.edu, or (971) 722-6271.