Houston Pools Benefit From Bank of America’s Summer Youth Employment Initiative
$50,000 Grant To H.P.A.R.D.
Funding Adds 26 Positions to Aquatic Staffing For 26 City of Houston Pools
The Houston Parks & Recreation Department (H.P.A.R.D.) is pleased to partner with Bank of America through a $50,000 grant initiative. The grant is part of Bank of America’s Summer Youth Employment Initiative, a partnership with city summer youth programs in coordination with the U.S. Conference of Mayors to provide 800 at-risk teens with summer jobs at local nonprofits and businesses in 18 communities across the country.
"We appreciate the support, generosity, & commitment Bank of America has shown to the Houston community through this grant," said Mayor Annise Parker. "Not only will area youth benefit from the employment opportunity; but, Houstonians at these pools will also benefit."
Bank of America's Summer Youth Employment Initiative underscores their committment to strengthening the neighborhoods they serve through lending, investing, & giving.
“Teens have been disproportionally affected by the recession with unemployment rates at an all-time high,” said 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 & 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.”
The Houston Parks & Recreation Department in partnership with SER-Jobs for Progress, will hire 26 area youth to provide additional assistance at City of Houston pools. SER will hire 26 young people from low income households in the Houston area to work as Pool Entrance Attendants. Their primary duty will be to insure that all pool guests check in at the 26 pools they are assigned to. This will free 26 lifeguards from the check in position to return to the lifeguard stand.
"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 Joe Turner, Director, Houston Parks & Recreation Department. "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!"
For the safety of all guests, the total number of people allowed entrance to City of Houston pools at any one time is based on the National Red Cross safety standard of 1 lifeguard per 25 pool guests. This standard is maintained by having visitors check in before being granted entrance to the pool area. When this duty is assumed by the new Pool Entrance Attendants, the lifeguards who were assigned this duty as part of their regular job function will return to their lifeguard duties. This will then increase the number of people who can be safely monitored when visiting a COH pool by a factor of 25.
The 26 pools that will benefit from the generosity of Bank of America include:
Alief Park Pool
11903 Bellaire
Hobart Taylor Park Pool
8100 Kenton
Reveille Park Pool
7700 Oak Vista
Beverly Hills Park Pool
9800 Kingspoint
Indp. Heights Park Pool
603 East 35th
Schwartz Park Pool
8203 Vogue
Clinton Park Pool
203 Mississippi
J. Robinson, Sr. Pool
1422 Ledwicke
Sunnyside Park Pool
3502 Bellfort
Cloverland Park Pool
11800 Scott Street
Lansdale Park Pool
8203 Roos
Tidwell Park Pool
9720 Spaulding
DeZavala Park Pool
907 75th Street
Lincoln Park Pool
1048 Grenshaw
Tuffly Park Pool
3200 Russell
Eastwood Park Pool
5000 Harrisburg
Love Park Pool
1000 West 12th
Wilson Memorial Park Pool
100 Gilpin
Emancipation Park Pool
3018 Dowling
Moody Park Pool
3201 Fulton
Windsor Village Park Pool
14441 Croquet
Finnigan Park Pool
4900 Providence
Northline Park Pool
6911 Nordling
George T. Nelson Park Pool
6900 LaSalette
Greenwood Park Pool
602 Beresford
Oak Forest Park Pool
1400 Dubarry
H.P.A.R.D. operates 38 outdoor pools in the Houston area. The 26 pools chosen for the additional position were chosen for the volume of use received in previous years & their potential pool capacity.
About Bank of America's Corporate Social Responsibility: Bank of America’s commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a strategic part of doing business globally. Our CSR efforts guide how we operate in a socially, economically, financially & environmentally responsible way across more than 100 markets around the world, to deliver for shareholders, customers, clients & employees. Our goal is to help create economically vibrant regions & communities through lending, investing & giving. By partnering with our stakeholders, we create shared value that empowers individuals & communities to thrive & contributes to the long-term success of our business. We have several core areas of focus for our CSR, including responsible business practices; environmental sustainability; strengthening local communities with a focus on housing, hunger & jobs; investing in global leadership development; & engaging through arts & culture. Learn more at www.bankofamerica.com/opportunity & follow us on Twitter at @BofA_Community.
About the Houston Parks & Recreation Department: The Houston Parks & Recreation Department (H.P.A.R.D.) stewards & manages over 38,752 acres of parkland & greenspace for the City of Houston & develops & implements recreational programming for citizens of all abilities. For more information on the Houston Parks & Recreation Department, call (832) 395-7022 or visit www.houstonparks.org.