Bank of America has awarded more than $400,000 in grants to several Monterey Bay nonprofits to help grow community resources ranging from hunger relief to paid vocational programs.
“Our region is incredibly diverse — from Santa Cruz to Salinas, Watsonville to Monterey and Carmel,” said Bank of America’s Monterey Bay region President Jennifer Dacquisto. “It’s diverse in ethnicity, age, background and needs. It’s our hope that by investing in nonprofits that support these populations, that we help to create more equitable opportunities for personal financial stability and success.”
Bank of America invests in the communities it serves through programs and partnerships that address complex societal challenges. Last year, Bank of America invested over $1 million into the Monterey Bay region and company employees volunteered over 3,000 hours to local causes.
Dacquisto explained that organizations were invited to apply for a grant through the Bank of America Charitable Foundation’s request for proposals. Applications were reviewed by a committee and grants were awarded to organizations that address issues fundamental to economic mobility in low- to moderate-income communities.
Grant recipients include: Food Bank for Monterey County; Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County; Boys and Girls Clubs of Monterey County; Digital NEST; Housing Matter; Kinship Center; Monterey Peninsula College Foundation; Natividad Medical Foundation; Rancho Cielo; and Santa Cruz County Office of Education.
The Food Bank for Monterey County received $50,000 in grant money and has partnered with Bank of America since 2009, explained Dacquisto.
The food bank serves over 100,000 individuals annually. According to the organization, 1 in 4 people in Monterey County are hungry, with 34% of county residents experiencing food insecurity.
“We have one of the hungriest counties in California,” said CEO of the Food Bank for Monterey County, Melissa Kendrick.
Kendrick explained that every dollar the food bank receives enables the organization to distribute $5 worth of food in the county.
According to the food bank, demand for food is 50% higher than pre-pandemic levels, stemming from economic pressures like inflation, rent increases and high gas prices.
“As long as we continue to get the support of wonderful organizations like Bank of America, we will be able to ensure that no one in this county — not one child, one senior, one person — will go hungry,” Kendrick said. “We want to go from one of the hungriest communities to one of the healthiest communities and the $50,000 that Bank of America has just given to us will help us get there.”
Source: montereyherald.com
