Vincent House and Starting Right, Now Named Bank of America’s 2023 Neighborhood Builders® in Tampa Bay
TAMPA, Fla. – Bank of America today announced Vincent House and Starting Right, Now as the 2023 Neighborhood Builders® awardees for their work advancing economic mobility and building up underserved neighborhoods in Tampa Bay. Through this multi-year grant funding and extensive leadership training for the nonprofits’ leadership, programs and services addressing homelessness and mental health discrimination will be able to expand their services.
The Neighborhood Builders program is one of the largest philanthropic investments into nonprofit leadership development in the nation, providing comprehensive leadership training for an executive director and an emerging leader on topics ranging from increasing financial sustainability, human capital management and strategic storytelling, and the opportunity to join a national network of peer organizations. Each Builder is also awarded a $200,000 grant over two years.
“Nonprofits are vital to solving social challenges, improving communities and promoting economic advancement,” said Bill Goede, president, Bank of America Tampa Bay. “Providing these nonprofits with flexible funding and leadership training not only positions these nonprofits for sustainable, long-term success, but demonstrates our commitment to creating real change in the places where we live and work.”
Vincent House teaches vocational skills to adults with mental illness. Focusing on sustainable wellness, staff and members work side by side on job and social skills to obtain employment, form healthy relationships, and maintain long-term recovery. This new grant funding will support the hiring of more staff to accommodate the growing demand for vocational training and the construction of housing for individuals with mental illness within their program who are experiencing homelessness.
“It is an honor to be chosen as a Neighborhood Builder by Bank of America and to be a part of their commitment to strengthening the community,” says David Lambert, executive vice president and general manager of Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative, Inc. and chairman of the board at Vincent House. “Living a full and productive life with a mental illness is possible, and we are grateful to Bank of America for supporting our mission to provide sustainable recovery, employment, and safe, affordable housing for those we serve.”
Starting Right, Now is focused on ending youth homelessness by providing housing, one-on-one mentoring, social services, and financial literacy skills to unaccompanied homeless youth. Volunteers and staff guide unaccompanied homeless youth to their highest educational potential to help them achieve professional success, which drives positive change within their local community. This new grant funding will help the organization expand their curriculum and hire more staff to reach more youths who need assistance.
“Starting Right, Now is so thankful to Bank of America for this generous contribution, which will have such a meaning impact on the youth that we serve, as well as make in our community,” said Vicki Sokolik, founder and CEO at Starting Right, Now. “We couldn’t accomplish our work without donors like you, who not only help us with funding, but continually open doors to partnerships with other nonprofits and corporations. We are sincerely grateful.”
The invitation-only grant program is highly competitive. Nonprofits are selected by a committee comprised of community leaders and past Builders awardees. In Tampa Bay, 49 nonprofits have been selected as Neighborhood Builders in Tampa Bay since 2005, with the bank investing $9.8 million into these local nonprofits.
Since 2004, Bank of America has invested more than $300 million in nearly 100 communities across the U.S., partnered with more than 1,600 nonprofits, and helped more than 3,000 nonprofit leaders strengthen their leadership skills through the Neighborhood Builders and Champions program.
