Portland, OR. Bank of America announced $329,150 in grants, to be distributed to 25 nonprofits working to increase educational and workforce development opportunities in the Portland community. These grants are part of the bank’s broader philanthropic commitment to helping individuals and families improve their economic stability. The nonprofits receiving support, like “I have a Dream, Oregon,” focus on connecting youth and adults, including the unemployed and underserved, to workforce opportunities, education and skills-building. Funding will help individuals living in low-income neighborhoods, who are disproportionately impacted by unemployment and other barriers to workforce participation as well as access to opportunities that will advance long-term sustainable growth in Portland.
One program receiving funds is “New Avenues for Youth.” According to administrators, less than 3-percent of youth who age out of foster care go to college, and even less end up graduating. “New Avenues for Youth” is trying to change all that.
“Investing in our workforce is one of the ways we are addressing issues fundamentally connected to economic mobility,” said Roger Hinshaw, Bank of America President for Oregon and SW Washington. “We’re proud to partner with nonprofit organizations like the Greater Portland Economic Institute, All Hands Raised and the Clark Community College Foundation from across the Portland metro area that are helping to build a more sustainable community.”
Portland State University is one of the nonprofits receiving a grant which will use the funding for their President’s Equal Access Program in order to support a commitment to valuing students through accessibility to higher education.
“With support from Bank of America, and through the President’s Equal Access Program we will be able to remove barriers for students to obtain a college degree at PSU,” said Wim Wiewel, President, Portland State University. “We look forward to broadening our impact in the Portland community.”
Other organizations receiving grants include:
• Albertina Kerr
• CASH Oregon
• Dress for Success
• Financial Beginnings
• Girls, Inc.
• Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
• I Have A Dream
• Junior Achievement
• Literary Arts
• New Avenues for Youth
• The Portland Business Alliance Charitable Institute
• Portland Community College
• The Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center
• The Portland Workforce Alliance
• The Regional Arts & Culture Council
• Schoolhouse
• SE Works
• Volunteers of America
These grants are part of Bank of America’s continued commitment to responsible growth as it works to improve the financial lives of individuals and families in Portland. Philanthropic and volunteer investments play a key role in this effort. Last year local employees donated more than 11,000 hours of volunteer time.
About Bank of America Environmental, Social and Governance:
At Bank of America, our focus on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors is critical to fulfilling our purpose of helping make people’s financial lives better. Our commitment to growing our business responsibly is embedded in every aspect of our company. It is demonstrated in the inclusive and supportive workplace we create for our employees, the responsible products and services we offer our customers, and the impact we help create around the world in helping local economies thrive. An important part of this work is forming strong partnerships across sectors – including community and environmental advocate groups, as well as non-profits – in order to bring together our collective networks and expertise to achieve greater impact. Learn more at www.bankofamerica.com/about and follow us on Twitter at @BofA_News.
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