NEW BRITAIN, Conn., Aug. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- The New Britain Rock Cats and Bank of America -- the Official Bank of Minor League Baseball™ -- announced today the 2006 Bank of America "Neighborhood Champions." The Neighborhood Champion honorees are East Haven Police Officer David Cari, Middletown Deputy Fire Marshall Al Santostefano, Middletown High School Teacher Daniel Sullivan, and Hospital for Special Care Pulmonary Support Group Director Janet Bowen.
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"Bank of America applauds our Neighborhood Champions for setting an example for their community and exemplifying higher standards," says Susan Rottner, president Bank of America Connecticut. "All of our nominees are winners for the dedication and commitment they exhibit every day."
Bank of America Neighborhood Champions is a locally-driven recognition program that offers a way for community members from around the country to honor teachers, police officers, firefighters and healthcare professionals by nominating them as "Neighborhood Champions." The program also provides these professionals -- typically among the most challenged to qualify in today's housing market to own a home in the communities they serve -- with information about the bank's Neighborhood Champions™ mortgage product, helping them to realize their dream of home ownership.
Bank of America's "Neighborhood Champions" winners were selected from dozens of submissions to honor individuals from local communities who exemplify higher standards in four professional categories: teachers, police officers, firefighters and healthcare workers. One Neighborhood Champion representing the Rock Cats was selected for each of the four professional categories for demonstrating exceptional community dedication.
For four consecutive home games, Bank of America and the Rock Cats celebrated each Neighborhood Champions honoree individually during pre-game ceremonies. On August 24, all four Neighborhood Champion honorees together will be recognized on Bank of America Day at New Britain Stadium, each receiving a commemorative plaque to mark their achievement.
David Cari - East Haven Police Department
A five-year veteran with the East Haven Police Department, Officer David Cari is being recognized for the courage and professionalism he showed during a March 2006 pursuit in which he and two other officers were wounded. Because of their heroics, the armed suspect was subdued. Officer Cari is a credit to his community and the entire law enforcement profession.
Al Santostefano - Middletown Fire Department
With over 25 years of service in the Middletown Fire Department, Fire Marshall Al Santostefano is always on hand to help the community and its residents. His work with the Adopt-a-Firefighter program has offered young people throughout the area an opportunity to learn about fire prevention and safety.
Daniel Sullivan - Middletown High School
Mr. Sullivan's dedication and commitment to the students at Middletown High School extends far beyond his day-to-day assignment. Two years ago, he championed the formation of Blue Unity, a program focused on student spirit and community involvement. Today, student participation in Blue Unity activities is now over 70% and the number of student suspensions is at a six year low.
Janet Bowen - Hospital for Special Care Pulmonary Support Group
At the Hospital for Special Care, Janet Bowen heads Special Care Breath Takers, the largest Pulmonary Support Group in the world. The program began with 18 original members 12 years ago and now has over 200 members, holding the title of the largest pulmonary support group in the country and in the world. Today, hundreds of people with respiratory impairments are living healthier lives because of Janet and her team.
"We saw many impressive submissions in the judging process," said William F. Dowling, president and general manager, New Britain Rock Cats. "It was not an easy decision, but the judges felt that these four individuals display higher standards in their professional and community dedication, and deserved to be celebrated as one of our local heroes."
The Neighborhood Champions honorees for the Rock Cats are among other great community leaders who are being recognized through Bank of America's association with 68 Minor League Baseball teams from across the country.
The Bank of America Neighborhood Champions recognition program also supports the bank's Neighborhood Champions™ mortgage product. Available nationally, the Neighborhood Champions mortgage product helps teachers, police officers, firefighters, healthcare workers and workers in related professions overcome the high cost of home ownership by reducing the cash needed to purchase or refinance a home. It features greater flexibility with credit scores and credit histories, minimal or no income restrictions and requires little to no down payment. Consumers can call (860) 952-6201 to contact a local mortgage specialist and learn more about this exclusive program and other Bank of America borrowing solutions.
As the Official Bank of Baseball, Bank of America has strived to create programs that build stronger, more vibrant communities, from the national level with Major League Baseball to the local level with Minor League Baseball and Little League Baseball. The Bank of America Neighborhood Champions recognition program is just one way the bank is working to strengthen the fabric of the communities where its customers and associates live, work and play.
Bank of America
Bank of America is one of the world's largest financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk-management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving more than 54 million consumer and small business relationships with more than 5,700 retail banking offices, nearly 17,000 ATMs and award-winning online banking with more than 19.8 million active users. Bank of America is the No. 1 overall Small Business Administration (SBA) lender in the United States and the No. 1 SBA lender to minority-owned small businesses. The company serves clients in 175 countries and has relationships with 98 percent of the U.S. Fortune 500 companies and 79 percent of the Global Fortune 500. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
http://www.bankofamerica.com/
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SOURCE: Bank of America
CONTACT: Joe Goode of Bank of America, +1-617-434-7314, or
joseph.l.goode@bankofamerica.com; or Evan Levy of New Britain Rock Cats,
+1-860-224-8383, or elevy@rockcats.com
Web site: http://www.bankofamerica.com/
