The FINANCIAL -- The Bank of America Charitable Foundation announced that during
the first six months of 2012, it awarded $274,200 in grants to
Portland-area nonprofits.
The grants focus significantly on neighborhood revitalization, with $158,000 going to local community development nonprofits focused on building and rehabilitating affordable housing facilities, foreclosure prevention services and homeowner counseling, and providing other services intended to help families with homeownership.
“Challenges in the housing sector such as lack of affordable homes can hinder economic recovery and vitality, so I’m pleased to see Bank of America’s leadership in focusing their philanthropic resources on building stronger neighborhoods,” said Steve Messinetti, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East. “The $75,000 grant we just received will provide enough funding to build an entire new house for a waiting family-in-need. And beyond the dollars, Bank of America’s employees will be helping build the home, too, with volunteering being a part of the partnership.”
As Bank of America reported, the majority of funds are part of a recently announced $22 million in housing-related grants that will impact more than 650 nonprofit organizations serving low- and moderate-income communities in 34 states.
Locally, Bank of America provided grants to 20 nonprofits in the Portland area, including:
Innovative Changes: to provide operating support to reach 1,200 low-income individuals with financial education, credit building, coaching, asset building and small dollar loans in Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington Counties.
Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East: to sponsor one new house-build in Oregon's largest Habitat development in the Centennial Neighborhood.
Portland Housing Center: to invest in the HomeOwner Basics program and provide 1,300 individuals with homeownership counsel.
Habitat for Humanity Willamette West: in support of a home in the new Hillsboro development of nine houses for local low-income, hardworking families.
The other grant recipients include Albertina Kerr Center Foundation, Clearpoint Credit Counseling Solutions, Friends of Tryon Creek Park, Grantmakers of Oregon and SW Washington, Japanese Garden Society of Oregon, Northwest Business Committee for the Arts, Oregon Children’s Theatre Company, Oregon Food Bank Inc., Oregon Opportunity Network, Portland Business Alliance Charitable, Portland Opera Association, Reach Community Development, Rebuilding Together Portland, Schoolhouse Supplies, Wy’East Economic Development Institute and Young Entrepreneurs Business Week.
“Bank of America is committed to strengthening Oregon’s communities by supporting local nonprofits that are effectively addressing critical community needs, and that are having the greatest impact in their reach and outcomes,” said Monique Barton, senior vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility for Bank of America in Oregon and Southwest Washington. “This latest philanthropic investment we’ve made will impact more than 3,000 individuals and families in the Portland metro area alone, and that’s something our local employees are proud to be a part of.”
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