Bank of America donated $35,000 to support programs that help students in Atlanta, Dalton and Savannah become well-prepared future business leaders. The funds were donated to Junior Achievement of Georgia (JA of Georgia), a nonprofit that has been teaching the state's students how to manage their money and start a business since 1943.

"As Georgia continues to recover from the fallout of the economic downturn, the lessons taught by JA programs have become more relevant than ever," said Jack Harris, president of Junior Achievement of Georgia. "Our organization relies on the financial and volunteer support of partners who, like Bank of America, believe in unlocking the potential of our young people."

JA programs bring volunteers into Georgia classrooms to teach students critical life skills. With its focus on teaching financial literacy, JA of Georgia is a natural partner for Bank of America. Through JA's financial literacy programs, students learn valuable lessons such as how to create and maintain a budget, how to use credit wisely, and the economic benefit of staying in school. At a cost of $30 per student, Bank of America's donation will provide JA programs for over 1,160 young people.