Alliance Bank of Arizona announced today a $100,000 scholarship donation to College Success Arizona, which will benefit  students in Phoenix-metro, Tucson and Northern Arizona enrolling in a Community College.

Along with the scholarships that will be distributed by College Success Arizona to 20 students over a two-year period beginning in spring 2016, Alliance Bank is initiating a campaign to appeal to other local businesses in order to raise awareness about the need to improve Arizona’s education system and the importance of workforce development.

“Alliance Bank has made a long-term commitment to support, improve and foster a more significant focus on education in Arizona and this donation is an affirmation to that effort,” said Jim Lundy, Alliance Bank’s founding president and CEO. “We are launching a local initiative to urge other Arizona businesses to help fund college and university scholarships, which have seen financial support plummet in recent years. Helping to raise Arizona’s college graduation rate is a small investment in our state’s continued economic success.”

In October, Robert Sarver, chairman and CEO of Western Alliance Bancorporation which is the parent company of Alliance Bank, was honored at the 2015 Leaders & Legends Luncheon hosted by College Success Arizona. Leaders & Legends is an annual fundraising luncheon recognizing an Arizona community leader or organization, dedicated to improving the college graduation rates for all Arizonans. The event supports the College Success program, and ensures that all scholars have access to a full time Success Advisor, to help clear barriers to educational success.

“This scholarship program will provide a tremendous boost to many of our high-need, high potential Arizona students to access college, obtain a postsecondary degree, and become highly skilled producers in the growing Arizona economy,” said Rich Nickel, CEO of College Success Arizona. “It is vital that talented, high-need students, who often face the highest barriers in becoming college and career ready, receive the funding and wrap-around services, including intensive individual mentoring, that this grant enables.”

Administered by College Success Arizona, the application process for the 20 scholarships will open in January 2016 and will be distributed in August.  

Since 2005, College Success Arizona has committed nearly $14 million in scholarships, and success services, to over 1,000 Arizonan students. Even though College Success Arizona students are often considered “at-risk,” they have a 71 percent graduation rate; significantly higher than their counterparts across the state.  While it is vital for the state to award more degrees, the stories of how College Success Arizona scholars benefit from the services they’re provided are the most compelling reasons for the work the organization does.

With 11 offices in Greater Phoenix, Tucson, Sedona and Flagstaff, along with Western Alliance’s robust national platform of specialized financial services, Alliance Bank of Arizona is a valued partner for Arizona’s business, real estate, professional, municipal and nonprofit communities. Western Alliance Bank is the primary affiliate of Phoenix-based Western Alliance Bancorporation. With $10 billion in assets, Western Alliance Bancorporation (NYSE: WAL) is one of the fastest-growing bank holding companies in the U.S.

For more information, visit www.alliancebankofarizona.com.