SEATTLE - Woodland Park Zoo volunteer, Norma Cole, was among the 2006 recipients of Bank of America’s third annual Neighborhood Excellence Initiative™ awards. The Redmond, Wash. resident was recognized for her 16 years of volunteer service at the zoo and unwavering commitment to wildlife and inspiring others. Recipients include individuals and organizations dedicated to improving the Puget Sound community.

The Neighborhood Excellence Initiative provides essential support through key programs: Local Heroes™, Neighborhood Builders™ and Student Leaders™. Cole received a Local Heroes award, which recognizes five community heroes whose achievements and leadership on local issues contributes significantly to neighborhood vitality. A $5,000 contribution was awarded to each recipient to be directed to an eligible non-profit of their choice. Cole has directed her grant to the zoo.

During her 16 years as a volunteer, Cole has donated more than 4,000 hours of service as a zoo docent. “Norma has made an invaluable contribution toward educating our visitors about wildlife and inspiring visitors to care and to change behaviors that can have a positive impact on our wild animals and their habitats,” said Kim Haas, zoo volunteer programs supervisor. “She’s a true giver and leader who has set a standard for caring and responsibility to which we can all aspire. We’re so proud that Norma has been recognized for the donation of her time, energy and talents to the zoo.”

Zoo docents are volunteer educators who are committed to educating school children and the general public about our natural world. Cole has been an integral part of the zoo’s docent training committee and is currently on the Docent Council, for which she is past president. She also is on the Board of Directors of the Snow Leopard Trust and was instrumental in the development of the zoo’s Conservation Connections snow leopard program. The Snow Leopard Trust is one of the zoo’s Partners for Wildlife. Founded in 1981, the Trust is the largest and oldest organization working solely to protect the endangered snow leopard and its Central Asian habitat.

The Bank of America Neighborhood Excellence Initiative commenced in 2004 to recognize, nurture and reward organizations, local heroes and student leaders helping to rebuild and revitalize their communities. In its first three years, Bank of America has committed over $48 million to the national program which operates in 40 of the bank’s major markets across the country. With the announcement of this year’s award recipients, Bank of America has committed over $1.3 million to date through the Neighborhood Excellence Initiative in Puget Sound.

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 54 million consumer and small business relationships with more than 5,700 retail banking offices, nearly 17,000 ATMs and award-winning online banking with more than 19.8 million active users. Bank of America is the No. 1 overall Small Business Administration (SBA) lender in the United States and the No. 1 SBA lender to minority-owned small businesses. The company serves clients in 175 countries and has relationships with 98 percent of the U.S. Fortune 500 companies and 79 percent of the Global Fortune 500. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. www.bankofamerica.com

Woodland Park Zoo
Accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, award-winning Woodland Park Zoo is famed for pioneering naturalistic exhibits and setting a standard for zoos all over the world. With conservation, education and excellent animal care at the core of the zoo’s mission, the zoo is helping to save endangered species in Washington state and around the world including tree kangaroos, snow leopards, red-crowned cranes, African wild dogs, western pond turtles and Oregon silverspot butterflies. By inspiring visitors and others to care and act, Woodland Park Zoo is making a difference in our planet’s future.