Seven Hills Foundation Wins $50,000 Grant from Bank of America

Worcester, MA — Bank of America today announced the launch of its Neighborhood Champions program in Worcester, naming Seven Hills Foundation as its inaugural 2019 awardee. Neighborhood Champions supports the role strong nonprofit leaders play in advancing economic mobility.

As part of the program, Seven Hills Foundation will receive $50,000 in grant support and an opportunity for engagement in virtual leadership training delivered by experts in the nonprofit sector. The mission of Seven Hills Foundation is to promote and encourage the empowerment of people with significant challenges so that each may pursue their highest possible degree of personal well-being and independence. The grant will support the ASPiRE! workforce readiness and employment program for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, especially in the area of horticulture and food service that includes a new Seven Hills Café and community garden at Coe’s Park in Worcester.

Examples of topics for the leadership training include human capital management, increasing financial sustainability, and storytelling.

“Seven Hills Foundation represents the finest of what we look for in a Neighborhood Champion,” said Edwin Shea, Bank of America’s Market President for Central Massachusetts. “They are positively impacting countless individuals and families, and we are looking forward to seeing how this investment helps them make even greater strides.”

David Jordan, President of the Seven Hills Foundation, said: “Seven Hills ASPiRE! is honored to be the recipient of Bank of America Charitable Foundation’s first ever Neighborhood Champions grant awarded to a central Massachusetts organization. This generous funding comes at a critical time in our organization as we work to expand inclusive community-based job training and employment opportunities for the people we support. We are thrilled to continue our long-standing partnership with Bank of America to enhance workforce readiness and employment outcomes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism and brain injury living in our communities.”

The Neighborhood Champions program in Worcester is intended to strengthen the bank’s commitment to advancing economic mobility and nonprofit leadership in the Central Massachusetts region.