Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) today announced a $50,000 grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation to support its Pathways to Employment (PTE) program, a nationally acclaimed training program that prepares students to enter the workforce as skilled employees. The grant will provide approximately 50 CPCC students with scholarship funding to help supplement the program’s tuition and fees.

“We are extremely grateful to Bank of America for their generosity and philanthropic spirit,” said Dr. Tony Zeiss, president of CPCC. “There is a tremendous need for skills training in our community. While we’re pleased to be serving more than 125 students through our Pathways program this fall, more than 700 individuals applied for those seats. Bank of America’s gift is extremely timely and will allow us to equip individuals with the professional skills needed to enter today’s labor force faster.”

CPCC’s Pathways to Employment program is a short-term course of study that allows students to complete up to 32 months of course work in 12-14 weeks. PTE provides strong basic skills and workforce skills to displaced workers seeking successful employment and career development. The program focuses on three key components – human resources (employability and life skills), basic skills (reading, math, GED preparation and communication skills) and job skills – to help students put their education to work. Students are already hard at work in the classroom this fall, learning such specialized, in-demand fields as welding technology, developmental disabilities, heating and air conditioning, and more.

“For us, community outreach and corporate practices are more than just an investment in the neighborhoods we serve and our workplace; they are investments in our long-term success as a business,” said Charles Bowman, Charlotte market and North Carolina president, Bank of America.  “The Pathways to Employment program provides much needed training for individuals with the greatest need for stable employment. We are pleased to support CPCC’s efforts as community colleges provide a crucial window of economic and professional opportunity for millions of people.”

Bank of America’s gift will be applied toward the PTE’s scholarship program which provides books and tuition for students wishing to enroll in the program, but do not have the discretionary income they need to pay for career training. To be eligible for a PTE scholarship, individuals must meet the College’s criteria. To view the complete list of parameters, please visit http://www.cpcc.edu/pathways/scholarships.

With this gift, Bank of America adds its name to the prestigious list of area companies and placement agencies already supporting CPCC’s PTE program and its many initiatives, they are: Carolinas HealthCare System, Presbyterian Hospital, North East Medical Center, Kelly Services, Pro Staff and Med Dent.

To learn more about CPCC’s PTE program, please visit www.cpcc.edu/pathways/about.

About Bank of America Corporate Philanthropy
Building on a long-standing tradition of investing in the communities it serves, Bank of America this year embarked on a new, ten-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 2008, making the bank the most generous financial institution in the world and the second largest donor of all U.S. corporations in cash contributions. Bank of America approaches investing through a national strategy called "neighborhood excellence" under which it works with local leaders to identify and meet the most pressing needs of  individual communities. Through Team Bank of America, bank associate volunteers contributed more than 900,000 hours in 2008 to enhance the quality of life in their communities nationwide. For more information about Bank of America Corporate Philanthropy, please visit www.bankofamerica.com/foundation.

Central Piedmont Community College is the largest community college in North Carolina, offering close to 300 degree and certification programs, customized corporate training, market-focused continuing education, and special interest classes. CPCC is academically, financially and geographically accessible to all citizens of Mecklenburg County. In 2002, the National Alliance of Business named CPCC the Community College of the Year for its response to the workforce and technology needs of local employers and job seekers through innovative educational and training strategies.

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This release prepared by Mallory Benz, 704.330.6613. An archive of CPCC news releases is at http://www.cpcc.edu/college-news.