Delaware – Acknowledging teens’ critical role as the next generation of leaders, Bank of America is providing 230 civic-minded high school juniors and seniors – including five from Delaware – with a paid, eight-week summer internship at local nonprofit organizations. These students, selected as 2011 Bank of America Student Leaders®, will gain hands-on experience and learn valuable leadership skills while providing support to nonprofits in critical need of resources. This year alone, the company is investing more than $1 million in the leadership program and has committed more than $8 million since the program’s inception in 2004.
In addition to the internships, Student Leaders participate in a week-long Bank of America Student Leadership Summit from July 10 to July 15, 2011 in Washington, D.C. Now in its fourth year, the goal of the summit is to inspire students, who are already answering the nation’s call to service, to remain committed to service and to equip them with tools and resources to continue their positive contributions in their communities.
Local Student Leaders are:
• Mankaprr Conteh, a Bear resident, and rising senior at Appoquinimink High School, is interning at Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware, Inc.
• Joyce Li, a Hockessin resident, and recent graduate at Charter School of Wilmington, is interning at Latin American Community Center, Inc.
• Faith Lyons, a Wilmington resident, and rising senior at Tower Hill School, is interning at Latin American Community Center, Inc.
• Amy Micklos, a Newark resident, and recent graduate at Newark High School, is interning at Boys & Girls Club of Delaware, Inc.
• Lauren Mirzakhalili, a Dover resident, and recent graduate of Dover High School, is interning at Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware, Inc.
“As teens are disproportionately affected by high unemployment rates, our Student Leaders program helps match civic-minded youth with nonprofit organizations in need of extra resources,” said Chip Rossi, Delaware president, Bank of America. “At Bank of America, we strongly believe that an investment in future leaders plays a pivotal role in revitalizing our communities. Through this initiative, we’re equipping young people with invaluable learning and professional development experiences while helping to create a culture of service in our own backyard.”
Through a series of interactive workshops, including sessions on financial education, environmental sustainability, nonprofit leadership and Capitol Hill briefings, the summit broadens students’ understanding of how service creates positive change in communities and how corporate, nonprofit and government collaboration is instrumental in community revitalization. Highlights include:
• Leadership sessions that identify personal strengths, define personal and professional success, develop future goals and identify opportunities for giving back to the community.
• A service learning volunteer activity with Operation Homefront to learn more about and support the needs of military families.
• Meetings on Capitol Hill to discuss important issues that impact young people such as lack of financial education in secondary schools and affordable opportunities for a post secondary education.
• A first-hand look at people and moments that have shaped our country’s history through the photographer’s lens of David Kennerly, former White House photographer and Pulitzer Prize winner for his Vietnam photographs.
• A discussion hosted by youth advocate and author of the book The Other Wes Moore, Wes Moore, who will explore the importance of youth leadership and young people’s vital role in strengthening society.
The Student Leaders program is part of the bank’s signature philanthropic initiative that recognizes the service and leadership of nonprofit organizations, local heroes, and student leaders working to improve their communities. Each year, Bank of America celebrates the achievements of five exemplary high school juniors or seniors in 45 cities who have demonstrated a commitment to community service by offering them a paid internship and leadership development training. By the end of this summer, more than 1,600 students in 44 U.S. cities and London will have participated in the program.
Bank of America Corporate Philanthropy
Building on a long-standing tradition of investing in the communities it serves, Bank of America is delivering on a 10-year goal to donate $2 billion to nonprofit organizations engaged in improving the health and vitality of their neighborhoods. Funded by Bank of America, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation gave more than $200 million in 2010, making the bank one of the largest corporate cash donors in the United States. As a global company doing business in more than 150 countries, Bank of America approaches investing through a national strategy under which it works with local leaders to identify and meet the most pressing needs of individual communities. Reaffirming a commitment to develop and sustain a culture of service, bank associate volunteers contributed more than one million hours in 2010 to enhance the quality of life in their communities worldwide. For more information about Bank of America Corporate Philanthropy, please visit www.bankofamerica.com/foundation
