The Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County (BGCPBC) announced that it has been named a recipient of The Bank of America Charitable Foundation’s 2014 workforce development and education grant. The grant is part of a $317,500 collective donation to support workforce development and education in South Florida. The donations will be used towards financial education and job skills training, both of which help communities thrive.

Bank of America’s grant will help The Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County specifically fund its exciting career development program for disadvantaged, underrepresented teens facing unprecedented challenges in obtaining employment and work experience, Career Paths for Next Generations.

This program is designed specifically to meet the needs of 800 teen members and their families in seven Clubs. Career Paths provides age-appropriate programming, academic enrichment and career training to 450 members, aged 12 to 18 for 4 hours per week, in 8-week cycles. The program includes structured, interactive instruction with mentoring, job skill training, employability development and career exploration.

For years, Bank of America has invested in workforce development and education grants throughout South Florida. This year alone, the grants will impact 36,963 individuals.

““It is crucial to provide young people in Palm Beach County access to education and career training so they can earn a living wage and build better money habits in order to achieve long-term success. Through the workforce development and education grant, Bank of America is making a lasting impact in our community and we are honored to be a recipient,” said Jaene Miranda, President & CEO of the BGCPBC. “Bank of America provides a great example of the potential of corporate social responsibility with this award and a model for investing in nonprofits who are serving the critical needs of those in their local communities.”