Bank of America invests $200,000 in Women’s Employment Network to advance employment opportunities and economic mobility for women in Kansas City
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (November 2, 2017) –
Bank of America announces the selection of Women’s Employment Network (WEN) as a 2017 Neighborhood Builder® in Kansas City. WEN is being recognized for its work to help local women achieve financial wellness and independence, which in turn, contributes to economic and social progress throughout the Kansas City area. Through Neighborhood Builders (#NeighborhoodBuilders), 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 communities they serve.
For more than 30 years, WEN has positively impacted the lives of thousands of Kansas City women seeking better lives for themselves and their families. WEN promotes the long-term financial success of its clients, helping them secure sustainable and well-paying jobs, build credit and improve overall financial literacy. Offerings range from mock interviews and resume writing support to personal finance workshops and ongoing coaching services. WEN is a lead member of the OneKC for Women alliance, formed in 2009 to empower women to achieve financial independence regardless of their socio-economic background. WEN also serves on the Money Smart Kansas City (MSKC) Steering Committee and Partnership Committee to support larger community efforts to increase the financial resources of low-to-moderate-income Kansas City residents.
“Nonprofits like WEN are instrumental to address critical community needs and strengthen the economic health of Kansas City,” said Gary Jankowitz, Bank of America’s Kansas City Market President. “Bank of America’s Neighborhood Builders program is just one example of how we deploy capital in communities and build cross-sector partnerships in order to advance economic and social progress, as part of our approach to responsible growth. We’re proud to partner with WEN to help women across the Kansas City area achieve financial independence.”
Bank of America’s Neighborhood Builders grant will allow WEN to launch its new WEN on the Road program, which will bring the expertise of WEN staff and additional resources to partner organizations within the community – resulting in an estimated 45 percent increase over two years in clients served. Funds will also be used to invest in the professional development of the next generation of WEN leadership to ensure the organization is well positioned to grow for years to come.
“At WEN, we believe in helping clients help themselves, and we know career and financial education resources are essential when it comes to achieving lasting financial stability,” said Sherry Turner, President of WEN. “We are honored to be named a 2017 Bank of America Neighborhood Builder, and we look forward to continuing to meet the needs of our clients where they are – beyond our traditional parameters – through collaboration with our community partners.”
Since 2004, through Neighborhood Builders, Bank of America has partnered with 22 nonprofits in Kansas City, investing more than $4 million to help them scale and improve services and programs serving the community. These partnerships are part of the broader program, through which the bank has invested $220 million in nearly 1,000 nonprofits and nearly 2,000 nonprofit leaders across 45 U.S. communities. Neighborhood Builders is a signature demonstration of the bank’s efforts to build thriving communities by advancing economic mobility through a focus on workforce development, community development and basic needs. Through Neighborhood Builders, the bank has helped nonprofits create greater impact in communities and better prepare for the future by providing the tools and resources to develop stronger strategic plans, build cross-sector partnerships, and enhance funding opportunities.
About Women’s Employment Network
Since 1986, Women’s Employment Network (WEN) has been a leader in providing employment preparation and career transition services to women throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area. Each year, WEN works with over 650 women, 88% of which live below the federal poverty level and 66% of which are minority. WEN offers job-search training and resources, individualized coaching, financial education, professional case management and other services to help women obtain economic independence through sustained employment.
About Bank of America Environmental, Social and Governance
At Bank of America, we’re guided by a common purpose to help make financial lives better, through the power of every connection. We’re delivering on this through responsible growth with a focus on our environmental, social and governance (ESG) leadership. ESG is embedded across our eight lines of business and reflects how we help fuel the global economy, build trust and credibility, and represent a company that people want to work for, invest in and do business with. It’s demonstrated in the inclusive and supportive workplace we create for our employees, the responsible products and services we offer our clients, and the impact we make around the world in helping local economies thrive. An important part of this work is forming strong partnerships with nonprofits and advocacy groups, such as community, consumer and environmental organizations, to bring together our collective networks and expertise to achieve greater impact. Learn more at about.bankofamerica.com, and connect with us on Twitter at @BofA_News.
Reporters may contact:
Diane Wagner
Bank of America
312.992.2370
diane.wagner@bankofamerica.com