For the fourth year in a row, a national children’s advocacy group named Bellevue one of the top 100 communities for youths.

The America’s Promise Alliance announced the 2010 awards Tuesday in a ceremony in Washington, D.C. Bellevue was recognized for quality of schools and for the attention children from all backgrounds receive from collaborations that include the City of Bellevue, Bellevue School District, Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue and the Bellevue YMCA.

The 100 Best awards, presented by ING financial services company, showcase communities across the country that tackle challenges and demonstrate innovative efforts to foster core services young people need to succeed: caring adults; safe places; a healthy start; an effective education; and opportunities to help others. The competition is one element of the Alliance’s Grad Nation campaign, a 10-year initiative to end the high school drop-out crisis and prepare young people for the 21st century workforce.

Bellevue high schools are among the top 100 public high schools recognized by Newsweek magazine and the city is also home to several innovative programs to support youth including: Bellevue Youth Link, a youth leadership program honored in 1992 with a National League of Cities Innovation Award; and Wrap-Around Services, a collaborative effort at Lake Hills Elementary and Odle Middle School where community partners including the City of Bellevue, Bellevue School District, YMCA, United Way and many others work together to provide a network of resources and support the local school and neighborhood community.

Approximately 750 communities from all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, enter the biennial competition. This year’s 100 Best winners include communities and cities from 37 states, representing localities large and small, urban and rural. A complete list of winners and additional information about the 2010 100 Best communities is available at the America’s Promise website.