Summit Sponsorship Spotlight: Bank of America
January 24, 2022
Corporate Engagement, National Mentoring Summit
MENTOR and Bank of America believe that potential is equally distributed but opportunity is not – particularly, for under-resourced and historically marginalized youth. Bank of America invests in nonprofits to provide opportunities to young people that infuse meaningful relationships and resources into their work experiences. This work adds up – since 2010, Bank of America has funded 20,000 jobs for youth. However, the bank recognizes that a job is not enough to change the trajectory of a young person’s life. They also need a caring adult who can provide support, advocacy, and exposure to broader networks in order to realize their potential. And that’s where the power of mentoring comes in.
In 2021, Bank of America convened a coalition of marquee team partners within sports—including MLB and NFL teams as well as the Bank of America Chicago Marathon and Bank of America ROVAL 400—to partner with MENTOR and help young adults access local mentorship opportunities. The focus is to give young people – who may be eager to work but lack the network to build a career path – the connections to help them to overcome the challenges that have kept meaningful employment out of their reach. This effort aligns with Bank of America’s longstanding commitment to advance racial equality and economic opportunity. And it’s made a difference in the lives of young people like Joseph Merchain, a college student who grew up in South LA and is now serving the community he grew up in.
Recognizing the importance of mentoring at all stages of a career journey, Bank of America has also focused on mentoring throughout its workforce programs. We promote employee’s career paths through many professional development and engagement practices, and partner with a range of nonprofits to build a pipeline of career-ready individuals
Public private partnership is critical to helping advance opportunities for young people and other vulnerable populations and mentoring is the secret sauce to creating long-term impact.
We’re proud to partner with MENTOR and nonprofits across the country – and as the presenting sponsor of the National Mentoring Summit, we look forward to welcoming you to the 2022 National Mentoring Summit.