Press release from Bank of America:
Asheville, NC— Bank of America today announced Verner Center for Early Learning as a Neighborhood Champion, a recognition that includes both grant funding and leadership training. The Neighborhood Champions program supports the role strong nonprofit leaders play in advancing economic mobility, and is an extension of the bank’s signature philanthropic initiative, Neighborhood Builders®, the largest corporate philanthropic investment in nonprofit leadership in the country. Alongside Asheville, the bank will bring the program to over 40 additional communities across the U.S. this fall as part of its commitment to investing in the long-term health of communities.
As part of the program, Verner will receive $50,000 in grant support over two years and an opportunity for engagement in virtual leadership training delivered by experts in the nonprofit sector. Verner aligns to economic mobility by supporting a rising need for affordable childcare and a strong focus on diversity and inclusion. We support Verner during a critical inflection point with their plan to build a new Verner Central at Emma Elementary School. The new center will increase enrollment by 50 to 60 families, or 20%. Based on current enrollment, they expect that approximately 80% of families at Verner Central qualify as low- to moderate-income.
“As we consider many of the challenges that our communities are facing – from the health and humanitarian crisis brought on by the coronavirus to the need for progress on racial equity and economic opportunity – the Neighborhood Champions program is a relevant and timely initiative to support the communities we serve,” said Andy Nadeau. “This program enables partners like Verner to plan strategically for growth and long-term sustainability, and we look forward to seeing how this investment helps Verner make even greater strides to address early childhood development.”
The Neighborhood Champions program is invitation-only for nonprofits who are poised to take their work to the next level. Leading members of the community participated in a collaborative selection process to identify this year’s awardee. Examples of the topics for the virtual leadership training awarded include human capital management, increasing financial sustainability, and storytelling.
“The Neighborhood Champions grant allows Verner to step-up teacher training, partner even better with parents and caregivers, and improve our family-focused programs,” said Marcia Whitney, President & CEO of Verner. “Band of America’s investment in Verner will create teacher and family leaders. We know that honoring our families’ lived experiences and providing leadership opportunities may begin to acknowledge and to reduce the barriers to economic mobility that families in our community face everyday.”
Since the program’s inception last year, Bank of America has invested $4.2 million in 84 organizations within 42 communities through the Neighborhood Champions program. The Neighborhood Champions program in Asheville will strengthen the bank’s commitment to advancing economic mobility and nonprofit leadership.
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