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Nonprofits, Local Heroes and Students Honored by Bank of America

Hartford News

November 27, 2008

On Thursday, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation honored two Hartford area nonprofits, Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford and Mutual Housing of Greater Hartford, Inc., as recipients of the prestigious Neighborhood Excellence Initiative (NEI) Neighborhood Builder awards. Five community leaders and five local high school students were also recognized for making a difference in the Hartford community. Neighborhood Builder winners receive $200,000 in unrestricted grants. Bank of America has committed more than $2.2 million in NEI awards in Hartford over the past five years.

NEI honors awardees in three categories: Neighborhood Builders – local nonprofit organizations working to promote vibrant communities; Local Heroes – community leaders who contribute significantly to the health of our neighborhoods; and Student Leaders – exemplary high school junior and seniors with a passion for improving our communities. Hartford’s 2008 NEI award recipients are as follows:

Neighborhood Builders – each receives $200,000 in unrestricted grant funding, and the executive director and an emerging leader from each organization participate in a leadership development program sponsored by Bank of America to enhance their strategic skills with other nonprofit leaders across the country and London.

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford is dedicated to inspiring Hartford’s youth to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. For nearly 150 years, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Hartford have been the leading provider of services to Hartford’s youth, providing year round programs, services and support. The Clubs provide programs that focus on character and leadership development, educational and career development, health and life skills, and sports and recreational activities.

• Mutual Housing Association of Greater Hartford, Inc., (MHAGH), is a partnership of community residents, state and local governments, and private enterprise that is committed to providing affordable housing and revitalizing neighborhoods in Greater Hartford. Mutual Housing has developed almost 400 units of mutual housing in 10 different areas throughout Greater Hartford and has plans to develop an additional 200 units over the next two years. Mutual Housing is also committed to improving the overall financial health of its residents by offering financial counseling and homebuyer educational courses.

Local Heroes – each directs a $5,000 donation from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation to an eligible nonprofit of their choice.

• Margaret Merriman of Hartford will direct her award to the Parkville Senior Center

• Judith Keane of Wethersfield of will donate her award to The Richard M. Keane Foundation

• Ken Hinson of Hartford will allocate his award to Community Renewal Team.

• James Heffernan of Hartford will give his award to HARC, Inc.

• Rose Fichera-Eagen of Hartford will direct her award to Christ Church Cathedral’s Church Street Eats Program.

Student Leaders – each participated in a paid, eight-week internship with a local nonprofit organization and in a weeklong leadership summit in Washington, D.C. designed to increase their understanding of how nonprofits, businesses and government partner to create positive change, and to encourage them as future leaders.

• Rasheem Aquain McCoy of Hartford recently graduated from Hartford Pubic High School

• Brenda Lee Santiago of Hartford is a senior at Hartford Pubic High School

• Armando Jimenez of Hartford is a senior at The Salisbury School

• Charquelle Theresa Mattox of New Britain is a senior at University High School of Science & Engineering

• Kayla Calderon Nieves of West Hartford is a senior at Sport and Medical Sciences Academy