Bank of America has named Augusta Locally Grown as its local 2024 Neighborhood Champion for their work in addressing food insecurity by providing access to healthy food and nutrition education.
Commemorating its fifth year, Bank of America’s Neighborhood Champions® program provides multiyear flexible grant funding annually to high-impact nonprofits in nearly 40 communities nationwide, according to a news release.
As a Neighborhood Champion, Augusta Locally Grown receives 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 strengthening Augusta-Aiken nonprofits that provide solutions to local challenges and promote economic advancement through Neighborhood Champions,” said Ora Parish, president, Bank of America Augusta-Aiken. “Providing these high-impact nonprofits with flexible funding and leadership training helps them address critical needs and create meaningful lasting change in our communities. Countless individuals, families and neighborhoods have felt the profound impact that these nonprofits have had in Augusta-Aiken over the past five years.”
Augusta Locally Grown supports small farms and gardeners by making their all-natural, locally-grown, sustainably-grown fresh foods available for sale in the Augusta-area community. Dedicated to growing the sustainable local food community throughout the Central Savannah River Area, they are committed to the idea that a community is healthiest when it feeds itself. This grant will support the opening a new Agricultural Innovation and Education Center, where they can expand current programming and improve the services they can offer to farmers, residents, and the community, the news release continued.
Bank of America has partnered with Augusta Locally Grown since 2017 and most recently supported their Georgia Food For Health vegetable prescription food Program. The GF4H program is dedicated to improving the health of 115 people suffering from diet-related diseases and their families. Through monthly clinic visits, dietary consultations, family-wide prescriptions, and cooking classes, the program aims to combat food insecurity and promote healthier lifestyles.
“The Neighborhood Champions award will provide catalytic funds to our efforts connecting area farmers within our community,” said Rebecaa van Loenen, executive director, Augusta Locally Grown. “In the past year we have served over 100 farmers and have had more than 10,000 attend our education classes. These funds are vital for us to continue to serve our community and scale our operations.”
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.
Past Augusta Neighborhood Champions include: Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia & CSRA, Augusta Technical College, Christ Community Health, Rise Augusta and Child Enrichment.
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