Back in 2002, officials in the local office of Merrill Lynch were mulling over what they could do to give to back the community. “We decided as a company that financial literacy and education should be the cornerstone,” said Brian Riley, director of regional offices for MerRill Lynch. “As much as we gain from the community, we feel a responsibility.” They decided to target California, where the company has been a major player in the financial management industry locally for years. It made sense to give back some support, Riley said. “We looked for opportunities where we do a tremendous amount of business,” he said. “We felt this was a good place to give back to the community where we live and work.” After a competitive grant review process, Merrill Lynch eventually decided to partner with Project Graduation Really Achieves Dreams Los Angeles, the North Hollywood branch of a national education program founded in Houston in 1993. So far, the company has given $3 million to the program, which provides youngsters and their families in lower-income areas of the northeastern Valley the tools to help students go to college. It’s done through programs at 15 area schools for various ages, each focusing on different aspects of economics boosting math and reading skills for youngsters; increasing management, algorithm skills and exploring careers for older students. Merrill Lynch also runs the “Investing Pays Off” finance summit and works hand-in-hand with project coordinators to create specific programs on financial planning and budgeting. The company also provides scholarships and runs a two-day finance workshop for students and families. “That’s all part of the curriculum so that we can help people do a better job planning for the future,” he said. The overarching goal, Riley said, is to help the community by helping students get ahead.