June 29, 2010
Northeastern Technical College Receives Grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation

Northeastern Technical College (NETC) today announced a $4,000 grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation.  The funds will establish a local Additional Student Support for Instruction, Supplies and Training (ASSIST) fund and will be managed by the NETC Foundation.  The fund will help provide a supplemental, emergency source of funds to cover the costs of textbooks, instructional supplies, tools or uniforms for low to moderate income students.

The support is part of a grant awarded from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation to the South Carolina Technical College System Foundation to  assist students throughout the 16 technical colleges across South Carolina, as the state’s most accessible and affordable higher education alternative is experiencing record number enrollment.

“Though we offer students the lowest tuition cost available and the greatest flexibility, the cost of textbooks and instructional supplies is one of the largest barriers to student attendance and retention,” said Dr. Ron Bartley, president of NETC (photo left).  “This fund will help us provide our most economically challenged students another opportunity for success by offsetting a financial challenge which can impact their ability to pursue their pathway to a better future.”

 Priority will be given to students receiving Pell Grants or Lottery Tuition Assistance who have exhausted their financial aid and cannot pay out-of-pocket expenses for textbooks and instructional supplies such as nursing kits or industrial tools.

“Bank of America is pleased to support Northeastern Technical College‘s goal to provide an education to students that is both affordable and accessible,” said Jeffrey Jones, East Carolina president for Bank of America (photo right).  “With more people turning to NETC to pursue a college education and learn new skills for employment, we hope this grant will help with the expenses that may have prevented some students from pursuing their education goals and reaching their full potential.”

Bank of America Corporate Philanthropy
Building on a long-standing tradition of investing in the communities it serves, last year Bank of America embarked on a ten-year goal to donate $2 billion to nonprofit organizations engaged in improving the health and vitality of their neighborhoods. Bank of America approaches giving through a national strategy called "neighborhood excellence" under which it works with local leaders to identify and meet the most pressing needs of individual communities. Bank associate volunteers contributed more than 800,000 hours in 2009 to enhance the quality of life in their communities nationwide. For more information about Bank of America Corporate Philanthropy, please visit www.bankofamerica.com/foundation.