The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Giving Spree gives grants to 46 Atlanta nonprofits
$2 million will go to groups that address community challenges.
For a second year in a row, nonprofits around Atlanta were the recipients of Bank of America’s Giving Spree. A total of 46 nonprofits received approximately $2 million towards programs that supported the bank’ focus on building pathways to economic mobility by awarding grants to organizations working to increase access to affordable housing, education and basic needs and support community revitalization, career advancement and environmental conservation in Atlanta.
“We know that nonprofitpartnerships are key to addressing complex community challenges, and we recognize the important roles thatour grant recipients play in serving Atlanta and ensuring better lives for so many in our communities,” Wendy Stewart, Atlanta market president, Bank of America.
Out of the 46 selected nonprofits, employees visited 19 to meet and learn more about the organizations. Some organizations included the Latin American Association, 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Year Up!, the Warrick Dunn Charities, among others.
“We looked at what the organization would use the funding for and what the resulting impact of this funding would be to the organization and the community,” said Stewart.
For 100 Black Men of Atlanta, the grant will fund financial literacy life-skills development includ- ing personal budgeting, stock market investing and entrepreneurship fundamentals.
“Our program, Project Success, provides students in the Atlanta Public School system (both boys and girls) with a foundation for economic mobility through educational and career opportunities,” said Don Vassel, CEO, 100 Black Men of Atlanta. “The grant will also support workshops that explore careers in business and pitching ideas for startups geared toward youth; while workshops on credit, savings strategies, home ownership and federal student aid applications are geared towards their parents.”
Similarly, a grant for the Latin American Association will support its basic needs program which provides emergency assistance and a pathway to self-sufficiency for low income Latino individuals and families. The program offers rent, mortgage and utilities assistance, housing placement, food and clothing, benefits enrollment assistance and empowerment coaching to help individuals and families achieve stability and long-term self-sufficiency.
“Over the past few years, these financial contributions have transformed the lives of low-income Latino individuals and families by ensuring their basic needs are met and that they have access to services and resources they need to reach self-sufficiency,” said Aníbal Torres, executive director of LAA.
The 46 nonprofits were chosen through a competitive grants selection process that aligned with the bank foundation’s strategy of building vibrant communities. In addition to the grants, Bank of America’s Atlanta employees volunteered more than 48,000 hours in their local communities in 2016, and are well on their way to exceeding that number in 2017.
“These organizations serve Atlanta by offering meaningful support for individuals and families to achieve better financial security and thrive. We also know that individual paths to economic mobility differ, and we have made it our mission to help address that by allocating funding and volunteer hours to causes that support greater economic mobility,” added Stewart.
In other news: Bert’s Big Adventure, a nonprofit organization that provides a magical, all-expenses-paid, five-day journey to Walt Disney World® for children with chronic and terminal illnesses and their families, is now accepting applications and nominations for children to join the magic on their 2018 trip. All applications must be submitted by Friday, September 8, 2017, https://bertsbigadventure.org/ nominate-a-child-or-apply/
William Mills Agency donated $10,000 donation to the ALS Association of Georgia in memory of its founder, William “Bill” Mills, Jr., who passed away from ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). The donation will help in research toward the cause and cure for the disease.