Bank of America Awards Over $5 Million to Detroit Nonprofits

DETROIT— The Bank of America Charitable Foundation celebrated its annual “Detroit Day of Giving” on November 13, which focuses on ensuring individuals and families in metropolitan Detroit have access to the tools and resources that create pathways to employment, advance stable, thriving neighborhoods and support entrepreneurship. The Foundation distributed $1.2 million in community giving to 43 local Detroit nonprofits. In 2019 Bank of America has contributed over $5 million in Michigan to advance economic mobility through grants, investments, sponsorships and engagement.

Ten employee teams and more than 125 Bank of America employees visited the organizations in metro Detroit, learning firsthand the impact the grants will have on the nonprofits’ goals. The grants are a part of the bank’s philanthropic investments that are aimed at improving the lives of individuals and families and the communities in which they live.

Metro Detroit families and individuals face difficult financial decisions every day and the nonprofit community plays a crucial role in providing some of these essential services that help people find their way to economic stability. This includes emergency shelter, access to food, financial education and benefits, and reaching individuals at their immediate point of need to connect them to programs and resources.

“Here in the community, we’re dedicated to creating pathways to employment, supporting job creation, entrepreneurship and stable neighborhoods,” said Matt Elliott, Michigan market president, Bank of America. “We’ve supported key institutions that are devoted to building strong communities and neighborhoods. In the last ten years, we’ve delivered $30 million of support to fund these initiatives. But we do a lot more than just write checks. We’ve activated these investments with more than 200,000 volunteer hours logged by our teammates across the city, region and state.”

Organizations that received grants include: Accounting Aid Society; Alternatives For Girls; Big Brothers Big Sisters; Black United Fund Of Michigan; Build Institute; Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan/All Saints Soup Kitchen Team; Central Detroit Christian; Civilla; Design Core Detroit; Detroit Future City; Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries; Detroit Riverfront Conservancy; Develop Detroit; Focus: HOPE; Global Detroit; Greening of Detroit; Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley; Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County; Jewish Vocational Service And Community Workshop; Junior Achievement Of Southeastern Michigan; Lighthouse of Oakland County; Mosaic Youth Theater Of Detroit; Motor City Match; Racquet Up Detroit; Salvation Army; S.A.Y. Detroit; SER-Metro-Detroit Jobs For Progress;

Southwest Detroit Business Association; Southwest Economic Solutions and United Community Family Services (CALC).

A very special component of Bank of America’s Day of Giving is the Neighborhood Builders Awardees. The Neighborhood Builders program deploys capital in communities and builds cross-sector partnerships, advancing economic and social progress as part of our approach to responsible growth.

Lighthouse of Michigan and the Detroit Police Athletic League (PAL) have been selected as Detroit’s 2019 Neighborhood Builders. The two nonprofits –will receive $200,000 each in unrestricted funds to increase their impact in the community through program expansion or operations and advanced leadership training.

Lighthouse of Michigan was established in 2019 when Lighthouse of Oakland County and South Oakland Shelter combined forces and merged agencies. LOC was founded in 1972 and started with a group of volunteers who provided food and clothing from the back door of a local church. SOS was established in 1985 by seven religious congregations in Oakland County. The new Lighthouse will leverage the best of both agencies, providing direct services (food, shelter, rental/utility and other financial assistance, clothing, crisis referrals) and stability

and housing programs that develop and support self-sufficiency.

With over 80 years of combined experience, Lighthouse aims to be a Beacon of Hope to its neighbors. Families turn to Lighthouse of Michigan seeking support for the most basic of needs such as food or shelter. Many of these people are seeking help for the first time. Lighthouse’s vision is to solve the problems of poverty and homelessness by building affordable housing in local communities and by providing people with the resources, relationships, and skills they need to better themselves.

Detroit PAL is a non-profit organization positively impacting the lives of more than 14,000 children each year. The group works to create safe and supportive places for kids to play. They also train and certify more than 1,700 volunteers each year to become encouraging coaches and mentors to the city’s youth. In partnership with the Detroit Police Department and community volunteers, Detroit PAL builds character in young people through athletic, academic, and leadership development programs.

In 1969, Detroit’s Police Athletic League was founded. Led by many of the biggest names in Detroit sports, it gave children an opportunity to learn through athletics and develop the confidence and motivation to go far in life. In 1996, Mike Tenbusch and Dan Varner founded Think Detroit. Designed as an alternative to Detroit’s existing youth sports leagues, Think Detroit quickly drew children to its leagues. Realizing that together they could best serve Detroit’s youth population, the two leagues merged in 2006 to create Detroit PAL. With year-round programs that star more than 14,000 young athletes and thousands of coaches, Detroit PAL helps its athletes learn the skills needed to succeed both on and off the playing field.

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.