The Bank of America Charitable Foundation has named Florence Crittenton of Arizona and the ASU Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College as 2014 Neighborhood Builders. The nonprofits are being recognized for their work to address workforce development, education and basic human needs.

Currently marking its tenth anniversary, Neighborhood Builders is a strategic investment in communities that combines $200,000 in flexible funding with leadership training for high-performing nonprofits and their executives for each organization.

“Over the last decade, we’ve heard from past Neighborhood Builders that the combination of unrestricted funding and leadership training has fundamentally changed their organizations and helped them stay competitive in an ever-changing funding environment,” said Bank of America Arizona Market President Benito Almanza.  “Florence Crittenton of Arizona and the ASU Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College have already done so much for our community in meeting basic human needs and in preparing teachers to go into our schools.  This investment will empower them to build leadership capacity and expand to meet the evolving needs in our community.”

Florence Crittenton offers a comprehensive continuum of care designed to help at-risk girls from 10 to 21 years overcome issues of abuse, neglect, teen pregnancy, teen parenting, behavioral and mental problems in a caring and safe environment.  Florence Crittenton also provides charter education for students in grades 9-12 as well as community-based services for youth families.

“We are honored to be selected as one of Bank of America’s Neighborhood Builders,” said Florence Crittenton’s CEO, Dr. Kellie M. Warren, “This transformational opportunity will help Florence Crittenton continue our strategic plan for long-term growth and sustainability while providing valuable training to the agency’s emerging leadership.  Additionally, this gift will help Florence Crittenton continue empowering girls and young women while positioning the agency for the next 100 years of service.”

Bank of America is an advocate for and supporter of the iTeachAZ program at the ASU Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, the only one of its kind in Arizona.  iTeachAZ is an immersion program for future teachers that more than doubles the amount of time most future teachers spend in the classroom.  Seniors in the program spend an entire academic school year teaching in a pre-K-12 school and district with a mentor teacher who plan and deliver academic content in a variety of formats including small group, one-on-one and whole class.

“Our number one priority at Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College is to prepare excellent teachers who inspire children to reach their potential,” said Mari Koerner, dean of ASU’s Teachers College. “The leadership training and generous investment from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation marks a continuation of our partnership with Bank of America, and strengthens our capacity to prepare the great teachers we need to build strong communities.”

Neighborhood Builders is currently marking its tenth year as the largest investment in nonprofit leadership development and organizational longevity. Through Neighborhood Builders, Bank of America has invested $160 million in 800 nonprofit organizations and provided training to 1,600 nonprofit leaders.

Organizations selected as Neighborhood Builders are recognized for their significant impact in addressing needs related to community development, basic human services or workforce development and education. The flexible funding allows nonprofits to build capacity. At the same time, leaders of the organizations learn about issues core to nonprofit sustainability through the Neighborhood Builders leadership training.