In San Luis Obispo, Bank of America has named Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo County (SLO Food Bank) as its local 2024 Neighborhood Champion for its work to alleviate hunger and build a healthier community. Commemorating its fifth year, Bank of America’s Neighborhood Champions® program provides multiyear flexible grant funding annually to high-impact nonprofits in nearly 40 communities nationwide.
As a Neighborhood Champion, the SLO Food Bank receives a $50,000 grant over two years, leadership training resources for the organization’s chief executive officer, access to technical coaching and a national network of nonprofit peers.
“This year we celebrate five years of strengthening San Luis Obispo nonprofits that deliver solutions to local challenges through the Neighborhood Champions program,” said Greg Bland, president, Bank of America San Luis Obispo. “Providing high-impact nonprofits like the SLO Food Bank with flexible funding and leadership training helps them address critical needs and create meaningful lasting change. Countless individuals, families and neighborhoods have felt the profound impact that these Neighborhood Champions nonprofits have had in San Luis Obispo over the past five years.”
The SLO Food Bank works with a network of more than 70 community partners to serve an average of 39,000 San Luis Obispo County residents monthly to alleviate hunger countywide. As pandemic-era benefits ended and food costs continued to rise, the demand for SLO Food Bank’s services have increased dramatically. The Neighborhood Champions grant will support the acquisition of materials and equipment to safely pack, store, and distribute millions of pounds of food, especially among children and seniors, two groups most at-risk for severe consequences of poor nutrition.
The grant will also help support the organization’s bilingual outreach to Spanish-speaking residents.
“The next few years are pivotal as we work to overcome rising costs of food and living while responding to the community’s significant and increased need for nutritious food,” said Molly Kern, CEO, SLO Food Bank. “We are grateful to Bank of America for this grant and leadership training which will enhance our organization’s future capacity to nourish our neighbors and build a healthier community.”
Neighborhood Champions is part of the bank’s longstanding efforts to build thriving communities by addressing issues fundamental to economic opportunity. The invitation-only program is highly competitive, with awardees selected by a committee comprised of community leaders and past awardees. Since 2019, Bank of America has invested over $9 million in more than 200 nonprofits within more than 40 communities through the Neighborhood Champions program.
Past San Luis Obispo Neighborhood Champions include: 5Cities Homeless Coalition, Economic Vitality Corporation (EVC), El Camino Homeless Organization (ECHO), People’s Self-Help Housing and SLO Partners.
Bank of America
Bank of America is one of the world’s leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 69 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 3,800 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs (automated teller machines) and award-winning digital banking with approximately 58 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 4 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BAC).
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SLO Food Bank
The SLO Food Bank’s mission is to work with a network of community partners to alleviate hunger in San Luis Obispo County and build a healthier community. The SLO Food Bank serves 39,000 neighbors on average per month through its Neighborhood Food Distributions, a network of over 70 nonprofit Agency Partners, its Senior Home Delivery Program, and Children’s and Seniors’ Farmer’s Markets. All of this is made possible by the generosity of volunteers and donors. To learn more about resources offered by the SLO Food Bank or ways to get involved, please visit www.slofoodbank.org.