Bank of America grants boost to education
Midlands Technical College is among 10 Columbia educational and service-related agencies to receive $150,000 combined in grants from The Bank of America Charitable Foundation for educational advancement.
Bank of America recently announced the grants, designed to provide access to workforce development and educational programming. The grants are part of a broader philanthropic effort to help individuals and families in South Carolina lead stronger financial lives.
“South Carolina has been modernizing its economy, which means it needs a more skilled and educated workforce,” said Kim Wilkerson, South Carolina and Columbia market president for Bank of America. “Our philanthropic investments are one way that we’re working to connect individuals in our community to the resources they need to further their career paths and help them lead more financially stable lives.”
Midlands Tech will use its portion of the funds to help train and certify individuals in several fields through its QuickJobs program. The college’s program includes nearly 50 career paths ranging from healthcare to manufacturing that have increasingly required certification for accredited schools.
“QuickJobs has provided thousands of individuals with the skills and credentialing necessary to qualify and find employment across the state,” said Midlands Technical College president Ronald Rhames. “Bank of America has been a long-standing partner and instrumental in funding the QuickJobs program that is helping train a 21st century workforce for South Carolina.”
Other grant recipients include City Year, Columbia College, Columbia Urban League, Communities in Schools, Junior Achievement, Midlands Education & Business Alliance, Midlands Housing Alliance, Midlands Middle College, SCORE and Youth Corps.
Bank of America’s funding will also support educational and mentoring programs for the state’s youth, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands’ CareerLaunch program. Through a partnership with Midland high schools in Fairfield, Kershaw, Lexington and Richland Counties, the CareerLaunch curriculum provides career exploration and mentoring opportunities for teens ages 13-18 to develop job skills and build on their understanding of professional career paths.
In addition to funding local nonprofits, Bank of America employees contributed nearly 5,000 hours of volunteer service to Columbia last year.
This story was originally published July 22, 2015 at 4:47 PM.