Bank of America has announced that Esperanza has been named a 2017 Neighborhood Builder, recognizing Esperanza’s work to strengthen and transform the local Hispanic community in Hunting Park, which in turn, contributes to economic and social progress in the Philadelphia area. Through Neighborhood Builders, the bank provides nonprofits with a unique combination of leadership development for the executive director and a developing leader in the organization, $200,000 in flexible funding, a network of peer organizations across the U.S., and the opportunity to access capital in order to expand their impact in the Philadelphia community.
“The Neighborhood Builder program promotes the leadership potential and operational capacity for nonprofits empowering them to meet the changing needs in local communities,” said Jim Dever, Philadelphia Market President at Bank of America. “We certainly saw that combination alive and well here at Esperanza, and the combination of flexible funding and leadership development resources really make this a very unique program.”
Esperanza was honored during an on-campus event on Giving Tuesday, November 28, 2017. The event took place in a space that is currently being renovated and will soon serve as a black box theater and performing arts venue. The Neighborhood Builder funds will partly be used to support ongoing renovations on Esperanza’s campus to create the theater, an art gallery, and other spaces that will allow Esperanza to serve as a cultural destination in Hunting Park.
“From the beginning, Esperanza has been dedicated to empowering others, because we believe character produces impact,” said Reverend Luis Cortés, Jr., Founder, President and CEO of Esperanza. “Being honored as a Neighborhood Builder helps us to further our mission to support sustainable, economically strong Hispanic communities.”
Since 2005, through Neighborhood Builders, Bank of America has partnered with 22 nonprofits in Philadelphia, investing $4.4 million to help them scale and improve services and programs serving the community. We are extremely grateful to Bank of America for their partnership and support of our work in Hunting Park.
View news coverage of the event by FOX 29 (clip starts at 5:12 PM mark) and KYW-TV (clip starts midway through 5:09 PM).
