PREP-KC Career Academies Get a Lift from Bank of America

Kansas City, MO— PREP-KC announced today it will be able to continue investing in the futures of urban youth through a new $300,000 grant from Bank of America. The grant will support PREP-KC’s Career Academies that set up students with college credit, workforce credentials, real-world experience, and relationships that help jumpstart their futures. Additionally, it will support more training for teachers, expand the infrastructure of key employer partners, and increase PREP-KC staff.

The grant will be disbursed over a three-year period as part of Bank of America’s overarching effort to ensure that students of all backgrounds receive opportunities to succeed, both financially and in their future career. The initiative also demonstrates the bank’s commitment to advance racial equality and economic opportunity, along with emphasizing Bank of America Kansas City’s continued focus on improving access to education within the community.

PREP-KC partners with six urban school districts and four charter schools on both sides of the state line. Together, these districts serve nearly 67,000 students; 80% identify as students of color, and 82% qualify for free and reduced lunch due to a household income below the poverty line. Many of these students live in historically underserved communities, and PREP-KC's partner schools serve 19 of the 20 zip codes with the lowest median household income in the 9-county metropolitan area.

“To succeed in the real world, you must learn in the real world. We believe this grant will allow us to make even greater investments into providing students with real world experiences,” said Susan Wally, President, and CEO of PREP-KC. “As we continue to launch new programs and adapt old ones based on the needs of the community, this partnership with Bank of America will allow us to invest in new technology and resources that expand the opportunities we are able to provide to youth in Kansas City.”

The funding will be distributed among PREP-KC’s Career Academies, which consist of eight different pathways that reflect Kansas City’s regional talent needs. Bank of America will be more heavily involved in the Business and Finance Academy, where there will also be an emphasis on informing youth about the banking industry. The goal is to prepare students, many of whom will be first-generation collegegoers, to succeed in college and their careers. Between 2019 to 2025, PREP-KC will help over 10,000 young adults from urban high schools earn Market Value Assets (MVAs) that will allow them to excel in their future.

“Bank of America is committed to providing educational opportunities to urban youth in the community. We look forward to our ongoing partnership with PREP-KC as they continue to provide access to MVAs  which include nine or more hours of dual credit, industry-recognized certifications, and internships to the youth of Kansas City who are discovering their future career paths,” said Matt Linski, President, Bank of America Kansas City. “This grant will play a key role in giving students, who will be the future of the Kansas City business world, the best education and opportunities possible.”

About PREP-KC

PREP-KC’s vision is to eliminate the “opportunity gap” that too many young people who grow up in historically underserved communities face. In these neighborhoods across the heart of Kansas City, children and teens miss out on learning about and preparing for the wide array of pathways into high-need, high-pay professions. PREP-KC connects our students with opportunities that prepare them for college and career success and cultivates the next generation of Kansas City’s diverse, well-prepared leaders.

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 68 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 3,900 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs and award-winning digital banking with approximately 56 million verified digital 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, governments, institutions, and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 3 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories, and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.