Press Releases

Bank of America Names Options for Community Living, Inc. 2021 Neighborhood Builder® 

This World AIDS Day, supportive services for individuals and families with HIV/AIDS, as well as those with serious mental illness, disabilities, and other chronic conditions will be able to scale, helping even more people through a multi-year grant from Bank of America. Options for Community Living, Inc. has been named as a 2021 Bank of America Neighborhood Builders® awardee for their work in the Long Island community addressing these issues.

As a Neighborhood Builder, Options for Community Living, Inc. receives a $200,000 grant over two years, comprehensive leadership training for the chief executive officer and an emerging leader on topics ranging from increasing financial sustainability, human capital management, and strategic storytelling, joins a network of peer organizations across the U.S. and gets the opportunity to access capital to expand their impact. The program continues to be the nation’s largest investment in nonprofit leadership development.

The coronavirus has compounded the challenges facing people in need of supportive services. Many individuals with chronic conditions have faced higher risk from the virus while facing increased barriers to care. The economic impact of the coronavirus has also been felt by organizations like Options for Community Living, Inc. and the people they serve, with decreased revenue and limited volunteer numbers making it harder to deliver services.

“As communities continue to recover and navigate a changing landscape, nonprofits are still experiencing significant demands and are in need of resources to help address critical local issues like supportive housing and health care services,” said Marc Perez, president, Bank of America Long Island. “Options for Community Living, Inc. is helping bridge important gaps for individuals and families to chart a path toward economic opportunity and stability. The Neighborhood Builders program will help this organization grow for greater positive impact in the community.”

“On December 1, we commemorate World AIDS Day to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS, remember those we have lost, and commit to caring for individuals and families impacted by the disease. Bank of America’s support will enable us to serve more Long Islanders living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic conditions in the years to come. The resources provided through Bank of America’s Neighborhood Builders program will allow us to help these people in the coming months and grow into the future,” said Yolanda Robano-Gross, CEO of Options for Community Living, Inc.

Since 2004, Bank of America has invested over $280 million in 50 communities through Neighborhood Builders, partnering with more than 1,400 nonprofits and helping more than 2,800 nonprofit leaders strengthen their leadership skills. Here on Long Island, 35 nonprofits have been selected as a Neighborhood Builder, with the bank investing $7 million into these local organizations through the program since 2005.

The invitation-only program is highly competitive, and leading members of the community participated in a collaborative selection process to identify this year’s awardees. Neighborhood Builders is just one example of how Bank of America deploys capital in communities, builds cross-sector partnerships, and promotes socioeconomic progress as part of its approach to responsible growth.

 

About Bank of America

At Bank of America, we’re guided by a common purpose to help make financial lives better, through the power of every connection. We’re delivering on this through responsible growth with a focus on our environmental, social, and governance (ESG) leadership. ESG is embedded across our eight lines of business and reflects how we help fuel the global economy, build trust and credibility, and represent a company that people want to work for, invest in, and do business with. It’s demonstrated in the inclusive and supportive workplace we create for our employees, the responsible products and services we offer our clients, and the impact we make around the world in helping local economies thrive. An important part of this work is forming strong partnerships with nonprofits and advocacy groups, such as community, consumer, and environmental organizations, to bring together our collective networks and expertise to achieve greater impact. Learn more at about.bankofamerica.com, and connect with us on Twitter (@BofA_News).

 

For more information, please contact Denise Waterhouse, Director of Development at 631-361-9020 ext. 1119.