Bank of America’s “Express Your Thanks” Campaign Raises $250,000 for Wounded Warrior Project®

Donations Generated by Gestures of Thanks to Service Members and Veterans

For the past two months, Bank of America has been asking people to thank our troops in various ways – in pictures, words, and with their signatures – and on Veterans Day, it has culminated in a $250,000 donation to Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP).

The effort was part of a campaign titled “Express Your Thanks,” which formally launched on Sept. 11 and ran through Nov. 11. The centerpiece of the campaign is a website that collected images and messages of thanks to service members and veterans. Each time an individual uploaded a photo or message, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation donated $1 to WWP on that individual’s behalf*. The company also made a donation for each photo uploaded via Instagram that included a #troopthanks hashtag. Selected images have been used to create a patriotic digital mosaic posted at www.bankofamerica.com/troopthanks. Visitors to the site will also have an opportunity to view a video highlighting the most poignant expressions of thanks collected during the campaign.

In addition to the website, Bank of America offered opportunities to generate donations to WWP at events such as the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, the Bank of America 500 and at home games for the Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots and Washington Redskins. At the Marathon, for example, race participants and spectators signed water bottles with words of thanks, and the bottles were used to create a patriotic mosaic at the race’s Health and Fitness Expo. At the Bank of America 500, race fans signed flags that became a large mosaic.

“It should come as no surprise that this campaign was met with overwhelming enthusiasm from day one,” said Jeff Cathey, senior military affairs executive at Bank of America. “Americans are incredibly appreciative of those who serve, and thousands took advantage of a simple yet meaningful way to show their support.”

The $250,000 raised by the “Express Your Thanks” campaign will not only support the 18 diverse programs and services that are uniquely structured to nurture the mind and body, but also help promote economic empowerment programs run by WWP. One example, Warriors to Work, helps Wounded Warriors transition back into the civilian workforce by providing career counseling services and job placement assistance.

“Any campaign that thanks America’s Wounded Warriors, service members and veterans in any way is valuable,” said Adam Silva, chief development officer, WWP. “This program has not only helped show how grateful we all are, but it will help Wounded Warriors throughout the country successfully transition to civilian life. On behalf of all of those who will benefit from this donation, we send our thanks to the thousands of people who participated in this program.”

With a history of supporting active military members, veterans, and their families dating back more than 90 years, Bank of America is proud to stand behind those who serve. Nearly 6,000 military service members and veterans work for the company, which last year was named to G.I. Jobs magazine’s list of military-friendly employers, and has been included in Military Times EDGE magazine’s “Best for Vets” list for three straight years. The company also offers specialized mortgage support and programs for military customers and their families, including a dedicated servicing unit. Through partnerships with nonprofit organizations, Bank of America has also donated homes to injured service members or families who have lost an active-duty loved one.

*For every qualified expression of thanks to the military collected through a Bank of America program running from Sept. 7 through Nov. 11, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation contributed one dollar, up to a maximum of $250,000, to Wounded Warrior Project™. One hundred percent of the donations made will be contributed to Wounded Warrior Project™. Bank of America and the Bank of America logo are registered trademarks of Bank of America Corporation. Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC. © 2012 Bank of America Corporation.

Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the world’s largest financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small- and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving more than 55 million consumer and small business relationships with approximately 5,500 retail banking offices and approximately 16,300 ATMs and award-winning online banking with 30 million active users. Bank of America is among the world’s leading wealth management companies and is a global leader in corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to more than 3 million small business owners through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations in more than 40 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

For more Bank of America news, visit the Bank of America newsroom.

Wounded Warrior Project

The mission of Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) is to honor and empower Wounded Warriors. WWP’s purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured servicemen and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. To get involved and learn more, visit woundedwarriorproject.org.

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