The Bank of America Charitable Foundation today announced it is providing more than $2.8 million in unrestricted funding to 14 nonprofits in Florida communities to address critical issues through the bank’s Neighborhood Excellence Initiative (NEI). Since introducing the program in 2004, Bank of America has invested $18 million throughout the state to help nonprofits increase their long-term viability and most recently to help sustain them in this challenging economic environment. 

Each organization, named “2009 Neighborhood Builders®,” will receive $200,000 in unrestricted grant funding and participate in Bank of America’s Neighborhood Excellence Leadership Program® with other nonprofit leaders from 45 communities across the country and London.

“Nonprofit and community leaders are instrumental in providing critical neighborhood services, and Bank of America is proud to support their work through the Neighborhood Excellence Initiative and other lending, investing and community development programs that align with our overall corporate social responsibility efforts,” said Mike Fields, Florida market president at Bank of America. “Not only does this program recognize some of the truly stand-out organizations and leaders in Florida, but it also offers valuable unrestricted financial support and professional development opportunities – critical to the long-term success of our communities."

In addition, Bank of America honors two other categories of community leaders through the NEI program: Local Heroes, individuals who contribute significantly to the health of their neighborhoods, will direct a $5,000 donation from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation to an eligible nonprofit of their choice, and Student Leaders®, exemplary high school juniors and seniors with a passion for improving their communities.

Earlier this year, 230 Student Leaders from 45 cities and towns, including 35 from Florida, participated in paid, eight-week summer internships with local nonprofit organizations and in a weeklong Bank of America student leadership summit in Washington, D.C. to learn about national service, civic engagement, financial education and how nonprofits, businesses and government partner to create positive change. 

The 2009 Florida Neighborhood Builder and Local Hero awardees are:

Pinellas County:

Neighborhood Builders

• Boys and Girls Club of the Suncoast, Pinellas Park, aims to provide youth, their families and the community with opportunities for safe, structured, well-supervised after-school and summer programs
• YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg, which is dedicated to supporting youth development and education and community outreach, awarded scholarships to 3,100 people in 2008 – a figure that doubled over 2007 due to increased demand
  

Local Heroes

• Ann Haendel, St. Petersburg, funds will be donated to Project Pro$per
• Phillip C. Harris, St. Petersburg, funds will be donated to The Crescent Foundation, Inc.
• Beth A. Houghton, St. Petersburg, funds will be donated to the St. Petersburg Free Clinic
• Jane Parker, Tierra Verde, funds will be donated to Suncoast Hospice - Perinatal Loss Doula Services
• Jonathan Wade, Greenwood, funds will be donated to A Spiritual Change, Inc.
   
  

About the Neighborhood Excellence Initiative

The Bank of America Charitable Foundation’s Neighborhood Excellence Initiative annually recognizes organizations, individuals and students who have shown a commitment to improving their communities. In its sixth year, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation has committed more than $110 million globally to the NEI program since its inception. 

By the end of 2009, more than 800 leaders from the nonprofit awardees will have participated in the Neighborhood Excellence Leadership Program®, which builds a network of community leaders across the country to share learning and insight in areas including strategic communications, financial management, succession planning, and long-term development. Through NEI, Bank of America has also encouraged community leadership at the grassroots level by recognizing more than 1,200 high school students and 1,200 community leaders over the last six years. 

Bank of America Corporate Philanthropy

Building on a long-standing tradition of investing in the communities it serves, Bank of America this year embarked on a new, ten-year goal to donate $2 billion to nonprofit organizations engaged in improving the health and vitality of their neighborhoods. Funded by Bank of America, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation gave more than $200 million in 2008, making the bank the most generous financial institution in the world and the second largest donor of all U.S. corporations in cash contributions. Bank of America approaches investing through a national strategy called "neighborhood excellence" under which it works with local leaders to identify and meet the most pressing needs of individual communities. Bank associate volunteers contributed more than 900,000 hours in 2008 to enhance the quality of life in their communities nationwide. For more information about Bank of America Corporate Philanthropy, please visit www.bankofamerica.com/foundation.