Bank of America Recognizes Two Local Nonprofits through Neighborhood Builders Program

In a special community celebration, Bank of America recently announced The Night Ministry and Bridge Communities as 2016 Neighborhood Builders.

Ravenswood-based The Night Ministry was chosen among multiple applicants for their work in addressing the housing, employment and health care needs of those struggling with poverty or homelessness in the Chicagoland area, which in turn, supports the sustainable growth of the Chicagoland economy.

Through the Neighborhood Builders program, the bank will provide The Night Ministry with a unique combination of leadership development for President and CEO Paul Hamman as well as their selected emerging leader Attronese Olagbaiye, who serves as the organization’s youth worker supervisor. It also provides the organization with $200,000 in flexible funding.

The Night Ministry plans to use the funds awarded for both program expansion as well as to further the professional development training of members of its management team and employees who have supervisory responsibilities. The grant will enable The Night Ministry to launch a formal pilot program for their Street Medicine Initiative and mobilize an additional part-time case manager on its Health Outreach Bus, helping to provide case management services to homeless and precariously housed individuals throughout the community.

“We recognize the critical role that nonprofits and their leaders play to build pathways to economic progress in the Chicagoland community,” said Paul Lambert, Chicago Market President, Bank of America. “Through our Neighborhood Builders program, we connect outstanding nonprofits, like Bridge Communities and The Night Ministry, to the funding and leadership development resources they need to scale their impact and help our community to thrive.”

Neighborhood Builders highlights Bank of America’s work to address issues fundamental to economic mobility in order to build thriving communities and illustrates how strong cross-sector partnerships and local community leaders can play a meaningful role in positioning Chicagoland communities for success.