Chris Hinman, SMSC Board Trustee; Jon Frandell, Bank Bank of Americaof America Merrill Lynch V.P. – Associate Resident Director; Susan Couch, Bank of America SVP – Business Banking; Debra Emerson, SMSC CEO; Clifford Cho, Bank of America Merrill Lynch SVP – Market Executive; Toni Petruzzo, SMSC Board Trustee; Sharon Esche-Irving, SMSC Board President.

On July 9, St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center was the gracious recipient of a $10,000 grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation. The grant will be used to fund the work activity programs – one of the innovative programs at SMSC that provides adult students with developmental disabilities with an education, practical life skills and vocational training.

“This grant will help us to continue to find employment opportunities in the community for our students,” said Debra Emerson, CEO of St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center. “Bank of America has been a wonderful partner.”

St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center’s Work Activity Program targets the individual employment goals of over 50 adults, of the 400+ total individuals enrolled at the Center. The program is designed to help mitigate notoriously high unemployment levels experienced by people with developmental disabilities. With the additional coaching this program provides, the selected students are supported for a 12 to 18-month period at the end of which, they are able to move on to individual job placements in the community. The programs at St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center are continuously made possible by the generosity of individuals, foundations and corporations like Bank of America.

“Employment generates income and personal pride. That is why Bank of America supports local workforce development programs, as a way for unemployed and underemployed people to get the educational and vocational tools they need to obtain and sustain a job.  Our support of St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center is truly unique in that it provides invaluable resources to help prepare and place those most challenged to employ – our community’s disabled adult residents who are capable of working and earning their own incomes,” said Rick Bregman, San Diego market president, Bank of America.

St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center is deeply grateful for the caring generosity and ongoing support of Bank of America. On behalf of the students and staff at the Center – THANK YOU Bank of America!