Two local Nonprofits awarded grants, they are;
- Octane Foundation for Innovation (Aliso Viejo) for its Strategic Growth Series to help mentor entrepreneurs, build tech companies and create jobs
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Capristrano Valley (San Juan Capistrano) for its education and career development program
The Bank of America Charitable Foundation today announced it has awarded $237,500 in grants to 17 Orange County nonprofits providing workforce development and education opportunities. These grants are part of Bank of America’s focus on employment opportunities and preparing the under-employed and the next generation of workers with the skills needed for careers in the evolving workforce.
The selected nonprofits grantees play a critical role in connecting low-income individuals and families to financial education, job training, workforce development and/or mentoring at their point of need.
“The social and economic benefits of employment have been proven time and time again, providing confidence, optimism and stability to our families,” said Allen Staff, Orange County market president, Bank of America. “Our philanthropic investments are one way we can connect people to the resources they need to lead financially stable lives.”
Among the nonprofits grantees is The Wooden Floor. “Bank of America has been a pivotal partner and funder of our mission and programs since 1997,” says Dawn S. Reese, Executive Director and Co-CEO of The Wooden Floor. “Our families come to us from some of the most impoverished areas in Orange County, living well below the poverty line. After spending 10 years with our organization, 100 percent of our youth graduate high school on-time and immediately enroll in higher education, most being the first in their family to do so. It is long-term partners like Bank of America that help create this lasting impact on these children’s lives, and the positive ripple effect they generate throughout our community.”
Nonprofits that also received funding include The Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley, Cal State Fullerton Philanthropic Foundation, Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Orange County, Goodwill Industries of Orange County CA, Junior Achievement of Southern CA, OakView Renewal Partnership, Opportunity Fund Northern California, Orange County Community Foundation, Orange County Community Housing Corp, Project Tomorrow, Score, THINK Together, Taller San Jose, The Wooden Floor, and Working Wardrobes for a New Start.
In 2014, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation gave more than $1 million in grants back to the Orange County community, and local employees volunteered nearly 40,000 hours in the community.
To learn more about Bank of America’s Corporate Social Responsibility programs and practices, please visit www.bankofamerica.com/about and follow the company on Twitter @BofA_News and @BofA_Community
Alyssa Tran
