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Three corporate entities commit $1 million each to the Birmingham Promise

Birmingham, Alabama (Feb. 25, 2020) – Mayor Randall L. Woodfin joined today with the Alabama Power Foundation, Altec\Styslinger Foundation, and Regions to announce a commitment totaling $3 million to the Birmingham Promise tuition assistance program.

“Every student deserves the opportunity to succeed,” Mayor Woodfin said. “I’m very grateful to the Alabama Power Foundation, Altec\Styslinger Foundation, Regions, and our business community and academic partners for helping us put people first. The steps we take today are the building blocks for Birmingham’s future workforce.”

“The Birmingham Promise is an important investment in the future of our workforce and the growth of our economy,” said Tony Smoke, vice president Alabama Power’s Birmingham Division. “I encourage others in Birmingham’s business community to get involved in this initiative and help elevate our students and our community.”

“Through Birmingham Promise, educators, city leaders, and the business community stand united around a tremendous opportunity to help more students succeed,” said John Turner, Regions President and CEO. “New investments are being made in today’s youth – investments that will benefit students, employers, and our entire community for years to come.”

“The Birmingham Promise is critically important to workforce development in our region,” said Lee Styslinger III, Chairman and CEO of Altec Inc. “Altec joins the city, our educators, and business community in taking the next step to support building a better Birmingham through a commitment to our students.”

In addition to the monetary commitment from each entity, Styslinger, Turner, and Mark Crosswhite – chairman and CEO of Alabama Power Company – are serving as fundraising co-chairs for Birmingham Promise.

The Birmingham Promise will create new career and college opportunities for graduates of Birmingham City Schools. It will also help meet the workforce needs of Birmingham’s current and future employers.

The program has two tracks: tuition assistance that covers college and apprenticeships that provide Birmingham high school students with jobs and career experience to prepare them for post-graduation opportunities.

Students of Birmingham City Schools who are in the graduating class of 2020 are now eligible to apply for apprenticeships and scholarships.

Assistance from Birmingham Promise can be used to help pay tuition and mandatory fees at any public two-year or four-year college in Alabama.

Today’s announcement comes just days before the March 1 deadline for Birmingham City Schools students to apply for the Birmingham Promise. To qualify, students must apply to the Birmingham Promise, complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and be accepted by a public college or university in Alabama by the time they graduate.

Please visit BirminghamPromise.org for more information.