In a surprise announcement at The Fairfield Museum and History Center last night, Bank of America honored FSW Inc. as a leading nonprofit organization in Southern Connecticut and recipient of Bank of America’s Neighborhood Builders® award, which provides significant grant funding and leadership training.
“We deeply appreciate Bank of America’s generous investment in our organization and its confidence in the work we do,” said William J. Hass, PhD, president and CEO of FSW. “FSW is committed to meeting the growing needs of the poorest in our community by building collaborative partnerships, developing innovative programs and services, and harnessing new technologies in order to accomplish more with the resources we have. Thanks to Bank of America’s strategic support, thousands of men and women struggling to lift themselves out of poverty will be able to rely on FSW for the advanced services they need to build brighter futures for themselves and their families.”
As a long-standing nonprofit organization serving the greater Bridgeport area, FSW’s passion and commitment help to improve the local community through comprehensive services that offer hope and opportunity to low income families through five multifaceted programs – Behavioral Health, Financial Education and Family Assets, Literacy and Work Skills, Youth Services and Social Enterprises. As a Neighborhood Builder, FSW will receive $200,000 in unrestricted core operating support over the next two years. In addition, FSW’s designated emerging leaders will participate in Bank of America’s strategic leadership development program with peers from non-profits across the country and London.
“Bank of America is committed to partnering with organizations that help to strengthen the fabric of our community,” said Bill Tommins, Southern Connecticut market president, Bank of America. “FSW’s efforts to move people living in poverty from crisis to stability to self-sufficiency have made a tremendous impact on the lives of thousands of individuals and families across Southern Connecticut. They’ve proven themselves to be a true champion of our community.”
According to the Bridgespan Group, Neighborhood Builders is the largest investment in nonprofit leadership development: 2.5 times the next largest program (in spending) and the third largest in number of leaders served. Since 2004, Bank of America has invested more than $165 million through the program, recognized over 730 nonprofits and trained nearly 1,500 nonprofit leaders. The Neighborhood Builders program is a capstone initiative building on the bank’s broader philanthropic commitment to addressing core issues that are critical to the economic vitality of local economies, with a particular focus on low and moderate income communities.
“We are heartened and inspired by this transformational award and the opportunities it provides to advance our organizational development,” added Hass.
FSW, Inc.
FSW Inc. is a 501.c (3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower people in the greater Bridgeport area to build a brighter future. FSW annually serves over 11,000 individuals, families and youth living at or below the poverty line who are challenged by a range of complex social, economic and health issues. Our goal is to move them from crisis to stability and to greater levels of self-sufficiency. To meet our client’s varied and complex needs, we carefully assess each unique situation and then create an individualized plan of services. The plan draws upon all of FSW’s innovative, flexible and collaborative programs to strengthen our client’s personal capabilities and support their pursuit of brighter futures. FSW’s comprehensive services are delivered through five multifaceted programs – Behavioral Health, Financial Education and Family Assets, Literacy and Work Skills, Youth Services and Social Enterprises. We are our client’s champion. We listen to them, we teach them to change, we hold them accountable and we campaign on their behalf. They define the need. FSW delivers the programs to meet that need.
http://www.fswinc.org/index.php
Bank of America Corporate Social Responsibility
Bank of America’s commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a strategic part of doing business globally. Our CSR efforts guide how we operate in a socially, economically, financially and environmentally responsible way around the world, to deliver for shareholders, customers, clients and employees. Our goal is to help create economically vibrant regions and communities through lending, investing and giving. By partnering with our stakeholders, we create value that empowers individuals and communities to thrive and contributes to the long-term success of our business. We have several core areas of focus for our CSR, including responsible business practices; environmental sustainability; strengthening local communities with a focus on housing, hunger and jobs; investing in global leadership development; and engaging through arts and culture. As part of these efforts, employee volunteers across the company contribute their time, passion and expertise to address issues in communities where they live and work. Learn more at www.bankofamerica.com/about and follow us on Twitter at @BofA_Community.
