Bank of America selects Hands On Greater Portland for its prestigious Neighborhood Excellence Initiative

Hands On Greater Portland is excited to receive recognition as part of Bank of America’s Neighborhood Excellence Initiative, which recognizes, nurtures, and rewards community-based organizations, local heroes and student leaders working to improve their communities.  Bank of America has named Hands On Greater Portland a 2010 Portland Neighborhood Builder, the nonprofit category of the Neighborhood Excellence Initiative.  The bank is awarding Hands On $200,000 over the next two years as part of the initiative as well as the opportunity to participate in a Bank of America Leadership Program.

Bank of America’s support will help Hands On respond to record numbers of volunteers at a time when nonprofits are looking for additional volunteer support.  Hands On Greater Portland is at the center of volunteering in the region, making 24,000 connections a year between volunteers and opportunities to serve with more than 400 nonprofits, schools and community organizations.

Bank of America’s funding is part of an ongoing effort to stimulate economic vitality in Portland and in communities across the nation. The bank has made a $3.15 million investment in the Portland region since 2004 through the NEI program alone.

In addition to Hands On Greater Portland, Proud Ground was also named a Neighborhood Builder by Bank of America.  Proud Ground  is a nonprofit that creates more affordable homeownership opportunities in Portland.

Update: The Oregonian recently published an article about the funding.