United Ministries named Bank of America Neighborhood Champion, receives $50,000

Greenville nonprofit United Ministries was named a Bank of America Neighborhood Champion. This honor includes a $50,000 grant to help provide access to education, financial, crisis and employment services for those confronting poverty, as well as virtual leadership training provided by nonprofit sector experts.

Bank of America chooses participants for its Neighborhood Champions program, which supports the role nonprofit leaders take in advancing economic mobility, by looking for organizations who may be ready to take their work to the next level. The financial institution also works with community members in the selection process. In addition to the Upstate, the bank will bring the program to over 40 additional communities across the U.S. this fall.

“As we consider many of the challenges that our communities are facing, from the health and humanitarian crisis to the need for progress on racial equality and economic opportunity, the Neighborhood Champions program is a relevant and timely initiative to support the communities we serve,” said Stacy Brandon, Upstate South Carolina market president for Bank of America. “This program enables partners like United Ministries to plan strategically for growth and long-term sustainability, and we look forward to seeing how this investment helps United Ministries make even greater strides to address skills needed by our neighbors to achieve economic mobility.”

The financial institution awarded United Ministries a $25,000 community response grant earlier this year to support the nonprofit’s efforts to assist individuals disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus. This funding helped provide for immediate needs including food and short-term lodging for vulnerable populations in the community. Bank of America also provided 6,000 masks and 50 cases of hand sanitizer to the organization.

“United Ministries extends its deep gratitude to Bank of America for their tremendous support and investment in communities’ economic mobility,” United Ministries Executive Director Lizzie Bebber said. “The Neighborhood Champions program will help advance our crucial work to provide vulnerable individuals and families with the skills and resources needed to reach self-sufficiency.”

Bank of America has invested $4.2 million in 84 organizations across 42 communities since the program’s inception in 2019.