Bank of America Charitable Foundation Awards $1 Million Grant to Arizona State University’s Herberger College of Fine Arts
Corporate Gift Will Create Bank of America ArtsWork Program, Bringing Much Needed Arts Education Support Into Downtown Area Scho
Bank of America today announced a $1 million grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation to Arizona State University’s Herberger College of Fine Arts, to establish the Bank of America ArtsWork Endowed Fund. The grant will be devoted exclusively to supporting arts programs that serve disadvantaged youth in Phoenix who might not otherwise have access to arts education.
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ArtsWork was originally created in 1996 to unite ASU artists and scholars with community leaders to benefit disadvantaged children through a focus on arts education.
The ArtsWork grant is part of Bank of America’s corporate giving program and was announced as the company unveils its new brand positioning: Bank of Opportunity(TM). The theme reflects Bank of America’s unique role in helping individuals, businesses and communities around the world realize opportunities to achieve their goals. The Bank of America Charitable Foundation’s grant to Arizona State University is one of several significant charitable donations that will be announced in the coming weeks to celebrate the power of opportunity. Each will address critical needs of the neighborhoods in which the Bank operates.
Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon will join Bank of America Arizona Market President Benito Almanza and Herberger College of Fine Arts Dean Kwang Wu-Kim at ASU’s Phoenix Urban Research Laboratory (PURL) at 1 p.m. today to present the grant. In addition, students from ASU’s Herberger College of Fine Arts will perform to demonstrate the creative potential grants like these can unlock, and to celebrate Bank of America’s participation in the ArtsWork program.
“The Phoenix market continues to play a critical role in driving Bank of America’s growth,” said Almanza. “Through our charitable foundation, we invest in projects that infuse vitality to the communities where our customers and associates live and work. With today’s donation, we’re privileged to provide a positive impact to the underserved children in downtown Phoenix schools through our commitment to the ArtsWork program.”
Arizona State University has played a pivotal role in revitalizing downtown Phoenix by moving several of its higher education programs to the area. A key to the success of the revitalization is providing programs for families in the area.
“Programs that have impact, that improve the lives of the community are at the heart of ASU’s mission,” said ASU President Michael Crow. “This gift from Bank of America will enable us to reach out through the arts to broaden the scope of educational opportunities we provide in the Phoenix metropolitan area.”
By creating The Bank of America ArtsWork Endowed Fund, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation and Arizona State University will provide an opportunity for children in the area to participate in more comprehensive arts learning, which is particularly important to schools with at-risk children. Studies have shown that because art is emotionally engaging, it offers a vehicle of creative expression and emotional release, often providing an alternative outlet to delinquent behavior or truancy.
“Our collaboration with ArtsWork has been invaluable to the Phoenix Union High School District and the young people we serve,” said Dr. Gerry Petersen, arts content specialist for the district. “After only two years we have seen the positive difference the program has made in our teaching and in our students. Bank of America’s investment in ArtsWork is an investment in our community’s future.”
About Arizona State University
Arizona State University is one of the world’s leading public comprehensive metropolitan universities, with four campuses in metropolitan Phoenix. ASU is defining a new model for higher education that is both academically rigorous and broadly inclusive. This New American University takes responsibility for the economic, social, cultural and environmental health of the communities it serves. ASU’s Herberger College of Fine Arts is a nationally recognized leader in the study, practice and development of the arts. It is home to the schools of art, music, and theatre and film, the department of dance, the arts media and engineering program and the ASU Art Museum. For more information about the Herberger College of Fine Arts, please visit http://www.herbergercollege.asu.edu/.
Bank of America Corporate Philanthropy
In 2005, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation embarked on an unprecedented $1.5 billion philanthropic goal over the next 10 years. The bank has announced it will donate $200 million in 2007, making Bank of America one of the most generous corporate donors in the country. The bank approaches giving through a national strategy called “neighborhood excellence” under which it works with local leaders to identify and meet the most pressing needs of communities. Through Team Bank of America, bank associate volunteers contribute more than 650,000 hours each year to improve the quality of life in their communities nationwide. For more information about Bank of America Corporate Philanthropy, please visit http://www.bankofamerica.com/foundation.
Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC.
Bank of America
CONTACT: Stacey Shaw, +1-480-727-7664, or stacey.shaw@asu.edu, or Denise
Tanguay, +1-480-965-7144, or denise.tanguay@asu.edu, both of ASU Herberger
College of Fine Arts; or Terry Francisco of Bank of America, +1-704-516-0231
or terry.h.francisco@bankofamerica.com
Web site: http://www.bankofamerica.com/
http://www.bankofamerica.com/foundation
http://www.herbergercollege.asu.edu/
