Bank of America Awards $208,500 to Address Critical Needs in Tampa Bay

TAMPA BAY – The Bank of America Charitable Foundation today announced $208,500 in grants to 10 nonprofits in Tampa Bay. The grants address “critical needs,” such as hunger and shelter, and support long-term solutions that promote financial wellness through access to community-based assistance programs.

“We’re committed to supporting our local community and look to make investments that are responding to the greatest needs of the people that live here,” said Bill Goede, Tampa Bay market president, Bank of America. “These grants will assist nonprofits addressing Tampa Bay’s immediate needs while also supporting integrated services that will help people get back on their feet.”

Some of the organizations receiving funding include:

• The Beth Dillinger Foundation received $8,500 to provide 60 children at High Point Elementary with 12 item food packs to feed them through the weekend. The grant fully funds feeding these children for 36 weeks of school.
• The Homeless Emergency Project received $35,000 to help provide emergency shelter and support services to 110 homeless individuals and eight families located in Pinellas County.
• ECHO (Emergency Care and Help Organization) received $20,000 to increase food available to clients by 20 percent, complete a remodel of its food pantry and to purchase an industrial freezer, increasing frozen food availability.

Grants were also awarded to the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, Feeding America Tampa Bay, Meals on Wheels of Tampa, the South Pinellas County Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the St. Petersburg Free Clinic, the Salvation Army of St. Petersburg and Trinity Café. 

The Bank of America Charitable Foundation is awarding nearly $22 million in grants to over 1,000 nonprofits across the country.  The majority of grants will support nonprofits serving low-income communities that have been disproportionately affected by the economic downturn.  This funding is part of the company’s intensified philanthropic focus on three core issues vital to the economic health of communities: housing, jobs and hunger and represents an important component of Bank of America’s lending, investing and giving activities to help advance local economies. 

The Bank of America Charitable Foundation will be accepting grant applications from nonprofits working on workforce development and education through Feb. 15, 2013.  For more information on the request for proposals, or to submit an application, please visit www.bankofamerica.com/foundation.

Bank of America Corporate Social Responsibility

Bank of America’s commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a strategic part of doing business globally. Our CSR efforts guide how we operate in a socially, economically, financially and environmentally responsible way around the world, to deliver for shareholders, customers, clients and employees. Our goal is to help create economically vibrant regions and communities through lending, investing and giving. By partnering with our stakeholders, we create value that empowers individuals and communities to thrive and contributes to the long-term success of our business. We have several core areas of focus for our CSR, including responsible business practices; environmental sustainability; strengthening local communities with a focus on housing, hunger and jobs; investing in global leadership development; and engaging through arts and culture. As part of these efforts, employee volunteers across the company contribute their time, passion and expertise to address issues in communities where they live and work. Learn more at www.bankofamerica.com/about and follow us on Twitter at @BofA_Community.

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