Bank of America grants $50,000 to Houston pools

The Houston Parks and Recreation Department recently announced a partnership with Bank of America through a $50,000 grant that is part of Bank of America's Summer Youth Employment Initiative.

The Summer Youth Employment Initiative is a collaboration with city youth programs in coordination with the U.S. Conference of Mayors that provides approximately 800 at-risk teens with summer jobs at local nonprofit companies and businesses in 18 communities across the country.

The HPARD, in partnership with SER-Jobs for Progress, will hire 26 area youths from low-income households to work at City of Houston pools, with their primary responsibility being to ensure that all pool guests are properly checked in.

"We appreciate the support, generosity and commitment Bank of America has shown to the Houston community through this grant," said Houston Mayor Annise Parker in a news release. "Not only will area youth benefit from the employment opportunity, but Houstonians at these pools will also benefit."

"Teens have been disproportionally affected by the recession with unemployment rates at an all-time high," added Bank of America Houston Region President Kim Ruth. "Summer jobs provide more than just a paycheck to young people. They build leadership, direct work experience and help build additional skills, build network, while also helping to strengthen Houston's economy during a time when an increased number of people need assistance."

"With this grant from Bank of America, we'll be able to increase the number of visitors we can accommodate at any one time in these 26 pools," said HPARD Director Joe Turner in the news release. "At the same time, we're able to give 26 young people jobs during the summer. For me, that's a win-win-win for everyone involved."

The pools that will receive the extra help include Alief Park Pool, Hobart Taylor Park Pool, Reveille Park Pool, Beverly Hills Park Pool, Independent Heights Park Pool, Schwartz Park Pool, Clinton Park Pool, J. Robinson Sr. Pool, Sunnyside Park Pool, Cloverland Park Pool, Lansdale Park Pool, Tidwell Park Pool, DeZavala Park Pool, Lincoln Park Pool, Tuffly Park Pool, Eastwood Park Pool, Love Park Pool, Wilson Memorial Park Pool, Emancipation Park Pool, Moody Park Pool, Windsor Village Park Pool, Finnigan Park Pool, Northline Park Pool, George T. Nelson Park Pool, Greenwood Park Pool and Oak Forest Park Pool

Of the 38 pools HPARD operates in the Houston area, these 26 pools were chosen for the additional position based on the volume of use in previous years and their potential pool capacity.

For more information on HPARD, call 832-395-7022 or visit www.houstonparks.org.