Bank of America Gives $30,000 to Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista

Grant to benefit school to health career mentoring program

Bank of America has made a $30,000 grant to Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista to fund the School to Health Career Mentoring Program, which encourages high school students in San Diego’s South Bay to seek careers in health care.


“Providing opportunities for today’s youth is important to Bank of America,” said Bob Tjosvold, San Diego Market President for Bank of America. “We are proud to partner with a respected leader in the medical industry like Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista.”

School to Health Career Mentoring works with the a variety of high, elementary and middle schools to inspire, educate and motivate South Bay youth to seek careers in health care. In addition, the program fosters youth confidence and improves academic achievement, community involvement and social responsibility.


“Hospitals are already facing staffing shortages of skilled professionals such as nurses,imaging technologists, pharmacists and other health care professionals.” said Scripps President and CEO Chris Van Gorder. “By exposing these students to health professions, Scripps seeks to shape tomorrow’s workforce and promote careers in health care.”


According to the California Workplace Initiative 2004 Report,major shortages of healthcare professionals will continue. Socioeconomic background as well as access to education, career-development resources and mentors limits the ability of students in San Diego’s South Bay to enter health careers.


With a $1.5 billion philanthropic goal over the next 10 years, Bank of America Charitable Investments is one of the largest corporate charitable organizations in the country. The Bank of America Charitable Investments group’s mission is to deploy a targeted array of philanthropic resources that help neighborhoods grow and prosper, creating thriving environments where the bank’s customers, associates and shareholders live, work and invest.For more information about Bank of America Charitable Investments, please visit www.bankofamerica.com/foundation.


Founded in 1924 by philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps, Scripps Health is celebrating 80 years as a not-for-profit, San Diego-based health care system. Scripps treats nearly 448,000 patients annually through the dedication of more than 2,600 affiliated physicians and 10,500 employees spread across five acute care hospitals, home health care services, and an ambulatory care network of clinics, physicians’ offices and outpatient centers. Recognized as a world leader in the diagnosis and treatment of disease, Scripps is in the forefront of prevention, medical innovation, clinical research and technology. Recent accolades include: Best Hospital in San Diego, San Diego Union-Tribune Readers’ Poll, (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004); 100 Most Wired Health Systems, 2004, Hospitals & Health Networks; Best Local Large Employer, 2004, SHRM, San Diego. More information can be found at www.scripps.org.


Scripps Health Foundation promotes philanthropic support of Scripps Health For more information about Scripps Health Foundation, please visit www.scrippshealthfoundation.org.

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