Bank of America has selected Academy at Bradenton, part of the Academy at Glengary, Inc., as it’s Neighborhood Champion® in Manatee County. The Academy will receive a $50,000 grant for its work supporting economic mobility among adults who live with a serious mental illness and face significant barriers to employment. Academy at Bradenton is an expansion into Manatee County, following the success of Academy at Glengary in Sarasota. The grant will support a long-term solution in workforce development for adults living with serious mental illness, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and major depression. Participants will receive vocational training in graphics arts and multimedia, culinary arts, , and business and technology to prepare for careers or further education. As part of the bank’s Neighborhood Builders program, one of the largest philanthropic investments into nonprofit leadership development in the nation, Neighborhood Champions provides funding to nonprofits that are advancing economic mobility and building up underserved neighborhoods. The invitation-only program is highly competitive, and nonprofits are selected by a committee comprised of community leaders and past awardees. The grant includes the opportunity to participate in virtual leadership training delivered by experts in the nonprofit sector on topics such as human capital management, increasing financial sustainability and storytelling.  Since 2004, Bank of America has invested more than $300 million in nearly 100 communities across the U.S., partnered with more than 1,600 nonprofits and helped more than 3,000 nonprofit leaders strengthen their leadership skills through the Neighborhood Builders and Champions program.