• Roy Lichtenstein Pops in Chicago with Bank of America’s Support

  Ben–Day dots popularized by “Father of Pop Art” Roy Lichtenstein will be ever–present in Chicago this spring and summer.

  Bank of America, demonstrating its commitment to cultural support that engages and strengthens communities, is the proud global sponsor of “Roy Lichtenstein: A Retrospective,” which is currently on display at the Art Institute of Chicago through Sept. 13. As the first scholarly assessment of the full scope and breadth of Lichtenstein’s career since his death in 1997, the exhibit will make subsequent stops in Washington, D.C., London and Paris.

• With Bank of America’s sponsorship, the exhibition is poised to be one of the defining presentations of the artist’s work both in the United States and abroad. It will present more than 130 paintings and sculptures from all periods of Lichtenstein’s career such as pre–Pop expressionist, classic Pop Romance and War cartoon paintings.

  Bank of America customers will be able to enjoy free admission to the Art Institute of Chicago and the Lichtenstein exhibit the first weekend of each month through the bank’s unique Museums on Us^® program. To take advantage of the Museums on Us^® benefit, customers must present their Bank of America/Merrill Lynch debit or credit card as well as photo identification

• at the museum admission desk. The acclaimed Museums on Us^® program is just one of the ways in which Bank of America demonstrates its commitment to the arts and the community by providing customers with a free cultural resource. Additional information on the program is available online at museums.bankofamerica.com.

  Additionally, Bank of America is celebrating its global sponsorship of the Lichtenstein exhibit in many creative ways across Chicago.

  Commissioned Student Mural: The bank partnered with the Art Institute and the School of the Art Institute, whereby the school’s students were asked to create original artwork as a tribute to Chicago and in the style of Pop Art. A selection committee, comprised of

• representatives from the three partnering organizations, the Estate of Roy Lichtenstein and advertising agency BBDO, then chose one student’s design to be painted as the 8,600 square foot mural to adorn three walls of the building that is located off the Kennedy Expressway in Chicago’s Bucktown neighborhood. The commissioned student, Adam Horrigan, a native of Grand Island, N.Y., created a colorful, vibrant demonstration that embraces familiar Chicago scenes and the emotional nature of Lichtenstein’s work.

  ATMs: Bank of America’s ATMs in the Chicago market display an animated message that features Lichtenstein’s iconic “Oh Jeff…” painting from 1964. The artwork appears on screen before fading out to reveal

• information about the bank’s sponsorship of the Lichtenstein exhibit and details of the Museums on Us® program.

  Banking Centers: Community boards at Chicago–area Bank of America banking centers feature posters that that help build awareness of the Lichtenstein exhibit, the bank’s global sponsorship and inform customers how they can gain free access to the Art Institute of Chicago through the Museums on Us® program. Similar information is also displayed via the bank’s Digital Communications Network that streams content via TV monitors in the banking centers.

  Digital: News of the Lichtenstein sponsorship as well as photos and videos of the student mural are being shared

• via social media channels such Twitter (@BofA_Community) and Facebook and here on the pages of the Bank of America Opportunity website. Be sure to check these social media channels for additional updates on the commissioned student mural and the exhibit sponsorship.

This year, Feeding America, the nation’s leading hunger relief charity, named Bank of America it’s Corporate Partner of the Year for 2012. Our partnership with Feeding America is now in its fifth year, and helps support its nationwide food distribution and consumer outreach programs like SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Today, the Feeding America network of 200 food banks provides food to 37 million Americans annually, including 14 million children and 3 million seniors.

Last year, Bank of America helped raise almost $3.5 million in individual and company donations for Feeding America through our Gift for Opportunity™ fund. We seeded the fund with an initial $1 million donation. And holiday season fund donations from customers and employees—helped by a 2:1 bank matching gifts program—resulted in more than 26 million meals provided to individuals and families.

The face of hunger in America
The number of Americans who are struggling to get adequate food — who are experiencing “food insecurity”— remains at a stubbornly high rate. With food prices rising, individuals are often forced to make difficult choices between food, rent and medical care.

Here in the U.S. there is a new face of hunger, with a different demographic coming to the doors of food pantries. Fewer are homeless—only 10%. Many live in the suburbs, not in urban neighborhoods, and hold down jobs. (36% of households served by Feeding America’s network include at least one working adult.) They may be invisible to their neighbors, but they still need the support of food banks or government programs to secure the food they need to feed their families.

Ironically, there are ample resources in the U.S. to feed everyone. But that outcome is hampered by poor distribution and underutilized government programs. According to Peter Shaefer, CEO of the Northern Illinois Food Bank, “it’s not a question of food or services, it’s a question of will, money, focus, effort, and volunteers—such as the bank and its associates—coming to attack the problem.”

A longstanding and comprehensive approach
At Bank of America, the issue of hunger is one we have addressed since 1985 through local initiatives and employee matching gifts— and through our partnership with Feeding America since 2008. We have supported hunger relief because it is a critical need, but also because it carries significant economic consequences. When individuals and families don’t have enough to eat, it affects their ability to hold down jobs or take advantage of educational opportunities, undercutting the stability of communities.

Our efforts to eradicate hunger are broad. We provide financial support through grants to nonprofits—a total of $20 million since 2008. And we rely on our volunteers to get involved in emergency feeding programs and food banks. Last year, for example, Bank of America employees donated 1.5 million hours of their time to community and non–profit organizations, including many that provide hunger relief.

The bank’s approach is holistic . We support efforts that range from emergency safety net programs to strategies that help individuals be economically self–sufficient. Says Kerry Sullivan, President of the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, “At the bank, our commitment to the issue of hunger has been a longstanding one, and one we intend to honor for many years to come. We are always looking for new, innovative and meaningful ways to be help those at risk of hunger—to be part of the solution.”

Quick Facts on Hunger in America

• 49 million people, or 1 in 6, have poor access to food
• Of those, 16 million are children
• Nearly 4 million people who are 60 or older are experiencing food insecurity
• Demand for emergency food assistance has increased from 2006 to 2010, with food prices rising by 6% and fuel prices by over 26%.

With over 4,500 nonprofits responding, this study provides insight on everything from financial forecasts to board dynamics and service demand. This year, not surprisingly, the survey suggests nonprofits will, again, have to do more with less. In fact, 88% of those nonprofits surveyed expect an increase in demand for services in 2012 while 87% said their financial outlook won’t get any better this year.

We look to these studies to help inform how we can enhance our continued support of nonprofits that provide critical services in the communities we serve. We know it’s more than writing a check and are proud to continue our investments in supporting and developing strong nonprofit leaders through our Neighborhood Builders program where we provide nonprofits with a grant of $200,000 paired with leadership training for the executive director and a next–in–line leader.

Through support of the NFF study and the Neighborhood Builders program, we are aiming to equip the nonprofit sector with tools and resources they might not otherwise be able to afford. We see this as an investment not only in the nonprofit sector, but in the communities themselves.