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PRESS RELEASE
Fontana
Named One of the Nation's 100 Best Communities for Young People by America's Promise Alliance
Competition Showcases Successful Efforts by U.S. Cities and Towns
to Help Young People Succeed
Release Date: January 24, 2008
Fontana,
CA - The Mayor and Council are pleased to announce that the America's Promise Alliance (the Alliance),
the nation's largest alliance dedicated to children and youth, in partnership with Capital One, today revealed
that Fontana has been named a winner of its 2008 100 Best Communities for Young People (100 Best)
competition. The 100 Best competition recognizes the 100 outstanding communities across America-large
and small, rural and urban-that are the best places for young people to live and grow up. More than 300 communities
in all 50 states applied for the honor this year. The 100 winning communities span 37 states.
Fontana was selected as one of the 100 Best in part because of the Fontana After School Program program. A partnership
between the private business, public sector and non-profits, the Coalition supports, manages and runs a Fontana After School Program where nearly 3,000 Fontana public school students stay after school for homework assistance, activities,
sports and a healthy snack. The Fontana After School Program helps at-risk and latch-key children with their educational,
social, physical and emotional needs.
"Fontana residents have known for years that our community is a great place to raise a family," said Fontana
Mayor Mark Nuaimi. "We have made substantial investments in our community aimed at creating an outstanding quality
of life for our youth. The partnership that brought forward the Fontana After School Program is the latest demonstration
of how Fontana values the potential of our youth."
Fontana was also selected in part because it is committed to providing positive role models for its youth. The
Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) awarded the City's youth sports program with the "Connector of the Year" (a
national award) for educating more than 5,000 parents and coaches on the principals of positive coaching, and
for making a difference in the lives of thousands of young people.
"The prosperity of every community and this country depends on how well we care for our children and youth," said
Marguerite W. Kondracke, president and CEO, America's Promise Alliance, "Although no place is perfect, when we
have communities that make young people a priority and are working to make sure they stay in school and have
all the resources necessary to lead healthy, productive lives, we must recognize them and by extension inspire
other cities and towns to follow their lead."
"At Capital One, we are committed to building stronger communities, one neighborhood at a time," said Carolyn
Berkowitz, Vice President of Community Affairs for Capital One. "That's why we're proud to partner with the Alliance
on the 100 Best competition to recognize the tremendous work in communities across the country to create
environments where children and families have boundless opportunities as well as the support systems necessary
to champion their growth and encourage their success."
The 100 Best competition was first held in 2005. This year's winners were selected by a distinguished
panel that included some of the nation's most well-known civic, business and nonprofit leaders such as: Gayle
Manchin, first lady of West Virginia, United Way President Brian Gallagher, former Mayor of Denver and President
of Webb Group International, Wellington Webb, Thomas Donohue, president and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Carol
Coletta, president and CEO, CEOs for Cities, Christine James-Brown, president and CEO, the Child Welfare League
of America, and Dr. Suzanne Morse, executive director of the Pew Partnership for Civic Change.
"We currently have over $100 million of improvements under construction, with the Lewis Library and Technology
Center and Fontana Park as the two largest investments under way," said Mayor Nuaimi about Fontana's receiving
this honor from America's Promise Alliance. "All of these investments are targeted to enhancing the learning
and fitness environment for all our residents -- with specific attention paid to our youth."
All communities that completed entries in the 100 Best competition were required to submit detailed
information to the Alliance on existing community programs and initiatives that help deliver the Five Promises-resources
identified by America's Promise as being critical to the development of healthy, successful children: caring
adults; safe places; healthy start; effective education; and opportunities to help others; to their young people.
Applicants were also asked to describe how different sectors of their community come together to deliver the
Five Promises and specific efforts and programs developed to ensure that their young people graduate from high
school prepared for college and/or the workforce. Each of these communities, regardless of whether they were
selected as a winner, will be eligible to apply for $300,000 in grants from the Alliance next month.
For more details about the 100 Best competition and to see a complete list of the 2008 winners, please
visit www.americaspromise.org.
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About the America's Promise Alliance
America's Promise Alliance is the nation's leader in forging a strong and effective partnership
alliance comprised of corporations, nonprofit organizations, foundations, policymakers, advocacy and faith groups
committed to ensuring that children receive the fundamental resources - the Five Promises - they need to lead
successful, healthy and productive lives and build a stronger society. Building on the legacy of our founder
General Colin Powell, the Alliance believes the success of our children is grounded in experiencing the Five
Promises - caring adults; safe place; a healthy start; an effective education; and opportunities to help others
- at home, in school and in the community. For more information on America's Promise Alliance visit: www.americaspromise.org.
About Capital One
Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, Capital One Financial Corporation (www.capitalone.com) is
a financial holding company, with 732 locations in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Texas and Louisiana. Its
principal subsidiaries, Capital One Bank, Capital One Auto Finance, Inc., and Capital One, N.A. offer a broad
spectrum of financial products and services to consumers, small businesses and commercial clients. Capital One's
subsidiaries collectively had $83.3 billion in deposits and $146.4 billion in managed loans outstanding as of
September 30, 2007. Capital One, a Fortune 500 company, trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "COF" and
is included in the S&P 100 index.
Contact
Information:
Kathleen
Fariss, Director of Development
Telephone: (909) 350-6586
E-Mail:
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