Bank of America grants funds 14 LaunchGVL internship

Bank of America Charitable Foundation awarded a $20,000 grant to the LaunchGVL program to support paid, work-based learning opportunities for high school students at Upstate non-profit organizations.

LaunchGVL is a partnership between Greenville County Schools and the Greenville Chamber to connect high-school students with paid internships in the Upstate’s high-demand areas. By exposing students to meaningful, work-based learning opportunities aligned with their career pathway interests, LaunchGVL interns are more prepared to make decisions about their education and career paths after high school.

Bank of America’s grant significantly extends the reach of the program to 13 students and six non-profit organizations who otherwise might not have been able to participate.

“Bank of America’s support is a shining example of a win-win-win partnership: a win for our non-profits who previously had been unable to participate in this program, a win for students who benefit from this unique opportunity, and a win for our community as we work to prepare the future workforce we so desperately need,” said Carlos Phillips, Greenville Chamber President/CEO. “We thank Bank of America for their leadership in supporting innovative workforce development programs like LaunchGVL.”

“A key component of the LaunchGVL program is that positions must be paid to allow for greater access for all students and Bank of America’s support ensures that we can expand the number of students this program reaches,” said Dr. Burke Royster, Greenville County Schools Superintendent.

Organizations hosting summer interns funded through this grant included: Habitat for Humanity, Hispanic Alliance, Mill Village Farms, First Steps, Greenville Tech Foundation as well as United Way of Greenville County.

“The efforts of LaunchGVL this summer directly supports Bank of America’s commitment to driving economic mobility and providing resources to the Upstate that can help our local communities do and achieve more,” said Stacy Brandon, Bank of America Upstate South Carolina Market President. “Bank of America invests in Upstate programs and partnerships that address complex societal challenges. We have an ongoing commitment to preparing young people for a brighter future. LaunchGVL provides a strong platform for that preparation.”

Watch to see how an Eastside High student was able to further her dream of becoming an architect through a LaunchGVL internship with Habitat for Humanity: https://bit.ly/2kkJKxT.

Students and employer businesses celebrated the end of the semester at a reception on September 11th at the Champions Club at Fluor Field. More than 100 business leaders, parents, students and school officials were in attendance.

LaunchGVL began in Spring of 2018 with a goal of providing high school students with opportunities to gain meaningful knowledge in their field of interest to inform their career pathways, and learn the professionalism and soft skills that will help them to succeed in the workforce and in college.

To learn more about LaunchGVL, visit www.launchgvl.org.

 

About The Greenville Chamber 

The Greenville Chamber, now in its 131st year of operation, is largest business organization in Upstate South Carolina with over 1900 Investors supporting the vision of a globally competitive Upstate economy where businesses succeed and people prosper. For information, visit greenvillechamber.org

 

About Greenville County Schools

Greenville County Schools is a unified, county-wide school district in Greenville, South Carolina, serving over 76,000 students in 106 schools and centers. The District’s signature initiative, Graduation Plus, focuses on providing engaging opportunities for students to earn college credit and/or industry certifications while cometing their high school coursework. Students begin developing areas of interest in elementary school through related art programs, clubs, a vibrant school-choice program, and project-based lessons that build skills in collaboration, communication, and critical thinking. Focused on building graduates aligned to the South Carolina Profile of a Graduate, Graduation Plus helps ensure GCS graduates are college and career ready and poised to be successful, contributing member society. www.greenville.k12.sc.us

 

About Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the world’s leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately, 1,800 lending center; approximately 4,400 retail financial centers, including approximately, 1,800 lending centers, 2,200 financial centers with a Consumer Investment Financial Solutions Advisor, and 1,500 business centers; approximately 16,400 ATMs; and award-winning digital banking with more than 37 million active users, including over 27 million mobile users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, government, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 3 million small business ownersthrough a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online product and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its terriitories and approximately 35 countires. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. www.bankofamerica.com