America’s Promise Alliance Names San Ramon One of 100 Best Communities for Young People
In Partnership with Capital One, Competition Recognizes Outstanding, Innovative Efforts That Benefit Children and Youth

January 25, 2006: America’s Promise – The Alliance for Youth is pleased to announce that the City of San Ramon is a winner of a national competition to identify the 100 Best Communities for Young People. In partnership with Capital One, the 100 Best competition honors communities – ranging from small towns to urban neighborhoods across America – for their commitment to provide healthy, safe and caring environments for young people. Hundreds of communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands took part in the competition.

San Ramon is one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People, in part, because of its “Community and Youth Resource” program, which works with at-risk youth as a crime prevention program. Because many of the identified traits that bring youth to the program involve poor school performance (GPA under 2.0, truancy, poor attendance), the program focuses on changing those behaviors and works to assure that needed resources are available for identified young people.

San Ramon’s Mayor H. Abram Wilson, said that San Ramon is one of the best communities for young people because it “… adapts to changing demographics and challenges as the city grows and develops, while maintaining quality services and high expectations for good results. We assure that everyone feels welcome and included, that every resident, particularly the young people, feels equal ownership.”

“This community deserves to be named one of the nation’s best 100 communities for young people because it genuinely cares about our interests. From implementing the “Every 15 Minutes” program that warns teens about drinking and driving, to holding dodge ball tournaments with turnout rates of over 100 people participating, the community is like a second parent to me, protective and caring, all at the same time.” Daniel Lin, Teen Council Member

“Nothing is more important than seeing that our children and youth have the resources and support systems they need to thrive and succeed,” said America’s Promise Founding Chairman General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret.). “When a community provides all that its young people need to be healthy and secure, they deserve to be honored and showcased as an outstanding example of what it takes to successfully nurture this nation’s young people.”

A complete list of winners can be found at www.americaspromise.org. 100 Best Communities for Young People was first launched in 2005 by General Powell in partnership with Capital One Financial Corporation. Other members of America’s Promise Alliance — including United Way of America, U.S. Conference of Mayors, Big Brothers Big Sisters, National Association of Counties and the American Association of School Administrators and many others — took leading roles in encouraging communities to compete in the 100 Best competition.

“The City’s priority from its incorporation some 20 years ago was building a community based on collaboration between parks, police and planning. This award is a tribute to all of the public and private entities working together to make San Ramon one of the best communities for youth” said City Manager Herb Moniz.

“This is an affirmation of the positive work we have done since the incorporation of this City, to make San Ramon the best it can be, a place where children and families can thrive. San Ramon is a community that values children, education, recreation and all of the positive elements of our society today. The partnerships we have with our schools include developing a park on every school site as well as swimming pools, gymnasiums, and theatres all benefiting the entire San Ramon community. Additional partnerships with child care providers, the Police Department, and youth organizations all come together here in San Ramon to make a great place to live, learn, work and play!” Said Jeff Eorio, Parks and Community Services Director.

Jane H. Adams, Executive Director of the California Park & Recreation Society, Sacramento, California states, “California is home to nearly 6.5 M school age children and youth of which many do not have supportive home environments. California’s park and recreation agencies are key providers of programs and services for children and youth during their non-school hours. I am delighted to learn San Ramon has been selected as one of America’s best communities for youth. Their “Community and Youth Resource” program provides San Ramon’s youth opportunities for positive learning in a supportive environment lead by trained and caring adults.”

“The National Recreation & Park Association congratulates the City of San Ramon for being recognized as one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People. The City of San Ramon’s park and recreation leaders and those community organizations that work together with youth are to be commended for their tremendous efforts in meeting the needs of the community’s youth. San Ramon demonstrates that ALL children have the five essential resources: caring adults, safe places, a healthy start, effective education and opportunities to help others.” Said Jonathan Korfhage, Western Services Coordinator for NRPA. “The National Recreation & Park Association represents over 5,000 communities across America. This award program sponsored by America’s Promise will raise the standards for all community youth programs by recognizing cities like San Ramon that are doing extraordinary work to create positive environments for young people to succeed.”

The 2007 100 Best Communities for Young People competition opened in September 2006. San Ramon and the other winners applied for the honor and were chosen by a distinguished selection panel of civic, business and nonprofit leaders, including United Way of America President Brian Gallagher, U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Tom Donohue, NBC News Washington Bureau Chief and Moderator of Meet the Press Tim Russert, CEOs for Cities’ President and CEO Carol Coleta, and former Denver mayor Wellington Webb.

The selection panel evaluated 100 Best entries that required detailed information about each community’s efforts to fulfill the Five Promises – the fundamental resources our children and youth need to succeed: caring adults who are actively involved in their lives; safe places in which to learn and grow; a healthy start toward adulthood; an effective education that builds marketable skills; and opportunities to help others.

“We held this competition to appeal to America’s competitive spirit to encourage communities to become great places to grow up.” said Marguerite W. Kondracke, President and CEO of America’s Promise – The Alliance for Youth. “Our winners’ outstanding efforts to deliver the Five Promises are shining examples of what it means to keep America’s Promise for our young people.”

"Capital One believes that every family should have the opportunity to provide for their children in ways that ensure future success," said Capital One President of Global Financial Services and America’s Promise board member Larry Klane, a member of the 2007 selection panel. "Through the 100 Best competition, we can recognize communities that foster the type of environment where children and families have opportunities and resources to realize their potential."

For more details about the 100 Best competition and the winners, please visit www.americaspromise.org.

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About America’s Promise
Founded by retired General Colin L. Powell, the America’s Promise Alliance is the nation’s largest private-public partnership committed to ensuring that every child receives the five fundamental resources – the Five Promises – essential for success: caring adults, safe places, a healthy start, an effective education and opportunities to help others.

Alma J. Powell currently serves as chair. Marguerite W. Kondracke serves as president and chief executive officer. Among the founding partners are the Corporation for National and Community Service, Points of Light Foundation, The United Way of America, Communities In Schools and MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership.

America 's Promise grew out of the Presidents’ Summit for America’s Future in 1997, where Presidents Bush, Carter, Clinton and Ford, with Nancy Reagan representing President Reagan, challenged the country to make children and youth a national priority. President George W. Bush affirmed his commitment in 2001.

About Capital One
Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, Capital One Financial Corporation (www.capitalone.com) is a financial holding company, with more than 324 locations in Texas and Louisiana. Its principal subsidiaries, Capital One Bank, Capital One, F.S.B., 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 $47.2 billion in deposits and $108.4 billion in managed loans outstanding as of June 30, 2006. Capital One, a Fortune 500 company, trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "COF" and is included in the S&P 500 index.