(Featured photo is from the Aiken Center for the Arts Facebook page. The organization offers musical programming including a “Beginning Strings Group to encourage students to begin their musical foundation and to better meet the needs of our community,” according to the Aiken Center for the Arts website)
Helping Augusta Locally Grown launch its Georgia Food 4 Health program and the Aiken Center for the Arts grow its Creativity Outloud and Beginning Group Strings initiatives are a few of the ways Bank of America has given back to the Augusta area.
This year’s community investment topped more than $547,000, according to Ora Parish, president of Bank of America, Augusta.
“Bank of America has been in Georgia for over 140 years,” he said. “Clearly, it’s a priority for us to contribute in a number of a different ways in the community where we serve and our employees live.”
Workforce development, affordable housing, economic mobility, arts and culture and health are areas Bank of America supports.
Paine College received significant investments including a September donation of $250,000.
“Bank of America is one of several organizations that pledged to be part of Paine’s 10-year transformation plan which is “designed to preserve, elevate, and transform Paine College into a premier liberal arts institution and a school of choice for students seeking a college degree,” according to a Paine College news release.
Read more: Paine College announces partnerships to transform the university’s future
“Bank of America’s gift will underwrite critical services provided by EAB, an education research and advisory firm. EAB will serve as project leaders and work with Paine College to leverage many of the same best practices the company has used to boost student and institutional success at more than 2,500 partner institutions. EAB will work closely with the transformation team leader from Paine who will drive and oversee the Plan,” the Paine College news release said.
Bank of America partnered with other institutions such as Aiken Technical College and Augusta Technical College including helping Augusta’s Tech’s new unveiled Jim Hudson Automotive Institute.
Read more: Augusta Tech to offer unique automotive program
Augusta Locally Grown’s Georgia Food 4 Health program provides fresh organic produce to the underserved in downtown’s urban areas, according to a news release from Bank of America.
Through Georgia Food 4 Health, about 75 women with diet-related diseases and their families will receive monthly clinic visits, dietary consultations and cooking classes.
At the Aiken Center for the Arts, students between the ages of 5 and 18 receive violin, vocal and keyboard lessons at no cost through its youth orchestra and Creativity Outloud program.
“We want a diverse set of opportunities, so we’re helping all areas of our local economy and more importantly our neighbors, citizens of the CSRA to thrive and to prosper,” Parish said.
Bank of America has provided north of $5 million in support of the community in the past five years, Parish said, and he expects it to continue into 2024 with major announcements on further investment coming in early 2024.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for 35 years. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
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