Bank of America Names Literacy Connects its 2024 Neighborhood Champion
Commemorating its fifth year in Tucson, Bank of America’s Neighborhood Champions® program provides multi-year flexible grant funding annually to high-impact nonprofits in nearly 40 communities nationwide. Bank of America has named Literacy Connects as its local 2024 Neighborhood Champion for the organization’s work building career pathways and increasing learners’ employability through language and literacy development.
As a Neighborhood Champion, Literacy Connects is awarded a $50,000 grant over two years, leadership training resources for the organization’s executive director, access to technical coaching and a national network of nonprofit peers.
“This year we celebrate five years of Neighborhood Champions in Tucson, a program which helps empower local nonprofits with training and financial resources to scale their efforts, provide solutions to local challenges, and promote economic advancement,” said Adriana Kong Romero, president of Bank of America Tucson. “Organizations like Literacy Connects will apply the flexible funding to advance workforce development programming and the leadership training will help them continue to create meaningful, lasting change in our community. Countless individuals, families, and neighborhoods have felt the profound impact these nonprofits have had in Tucson over the past five years.”
Literacy Connects is addressing workforce development in Tucson by providing free, flexible, full access classes and tutoring to adults who want to improve their reading, writing, math, technology, and English language skills. They recently launched a dedicated Workforce Development Department to work with their established adult education programming, specifically to serve learners with employment-related goals. Specifically, BofA’s funding will help the department formalize and expand their current adult education work-related offerings to include one-to-one employment coaching, networking, and digital skills tutoring.
“The Neighborhood Champion grant will allow us to build on the tremendous progress we’ve already made in empowering our adult learners in Tucson,” said Sharon O’Brien, executive director of Literacy Connects. “Every year, we see at least 60 students promoted or securing new jobs, and upwards of 70% of our adults report that they improve their employability, technology skills, and self-efficacy. This is a testament to the hard work of our learners and the vital role education plays in improving their lives. With Bank of America’s support, we can continue to strengthen our programs.”
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.
Pictured above from left – Tony Kee, Paola Tomassini, Sharon O’Brien, Adriana Kong Romero, Charlie Cajero, Brian Parker
