Program Provides $50,000 in Grant Support and an Opportunity for Virtual Leadership Training
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Bank of America today announced the launch of its Neighborhood Champions program in Tallahassee, naming Second Harvest of the Big Bend as its inaugural awardee. Neighborhood Champions supports the role strong nonprofit leaders play in advancing economic mobility, and is an extension of the bank’s signature philanthropic initiative, Neighborhood Builders, the largest corporate philanthropic investment in nonprofit leadership in the country. Alongside Tallahassee, the bank will bring the program to 40 communities across the U.S. this fall as part of its commitment to investing in the long-term health of communities.
As part of the program, Second Harvest of the Big Bend will receive $50,000 in grant support and an opportunity for engagement in virtual leadership training delivered by experts in the nonprofit sector. Second Harvest of the Big Bend aims to address the urgent issue of hunger in the community by distributing donated and purchased food to local food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, senior community centers and children’s feeding programs.
“We’re thrilled to bring the Neighborhood Champions program to Tallahassee,” said David Hulse, Tallahassee market president for Bank of America. “Through flexible funding and leadership resources, partners like Second Harvest of the Big Bend have the power to plan strategically for growth and long-term sustainability, and we look forward to seeing how this investment helps the organization make even greater strides to address food insecurity in our local community.”
The Neighborhood Champions program is invitation-only for nonprofits who are poised to take their work to the next level. Leading members of the community participated in a collaborative selection process to identify this year’s awardee. Examples of the topics for the virtual leadership training awarded include human capital management, increasing financial sustainability, and storytelling.
“The Bank of America Neighborhood Champions grant will allow us to further our mission to educate and engage the community in the fight against hunger in 11 counties,” said Monique Ellsworth, chief executive officer for Second Harvest of the Big Bend. “Second Harvest of the Big Bend is committed to providing food and other items to help individuals while creating systematic change.”
Over more than fifteen years, Bank of America has invested $240 million in 49 communities through Neighborhood Builders, partnering with more than 1,000 nonprofits and helping more than 2,000 nonprofit leaders strengthen their leadership skills. The Neighborhood Champions program in Tallahassee will strengthen the bank’s commitment to advancing economic mobility and nonprofit leadership.
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