Bank of America is celebrating two decades of its Neighborhood Builders program, one of the country’s largest and longest-standing philanthropic investments in leadership. “The reason I love it, we give out millions of dollars in a lot of communities around the country, but this specifically does two things,” said Jim Morehead, president, Bank of America Seattle. “It gives $200,000 grants to very deserving organizations. Those are unrestricted, very flexible grants, and also, it’s leadership training.” Two leaders from each non-profit organization that receive a grant are enrolled in a program to empower community leadership through training and resources. It’s a powerful and unique way Bank of America has found to help non-profits maximize their long-term impact in local communities. “We get amazing feedback from those leaders because we’re connecting other organizations around the country with their leaders and some of the same challenges they have,” Morehead said. Since 2004, Bank of America has invested more than $346 million in grants to nearly 2,000 non-profits and helped more than 4,000 non-profit leaders strengthen their leadership skills. Locally, the program has reached more than 40 local non-profits and 80 non-profit executives. This year, there are three local Neighborhood Builders winners: HomeSight is a non-profit that offers a full spectrum of services and programs to support low-income homebuyers while strengthening local economic stability and preserving affordability. Coffee Oasis was selected for their creative approach to providing restorative pathways, like safe spaces, housing, crisis support, mentorship and job skills training, for young people. This is through street and school outreach programs and their self-sustaining coffee business where all profits are redirected back to the youth they serve. Jaci McCormak, CEO of Rise Above was selected for channeling all the benefits that sports brought to her life and using it to educate and empower Native youth in the Pacific and Inland Northwest and beyond. Rise Above recruits college and professional athletes who have overcome their own obstacles to serve as mentors. Bank of America also partners with other local companies to maximize impact in the community. “We call it profits and purpose,” Morehead said. “We are for-profit companies, but we also want to give back to our community, help rise up our community.” Learn more about the Neighborhood Builders program on the Bank of America website. Sponsored by Bank of America Segment Producer Suzie Wiley. Watch New Day Northwest at 11 a.m. weekdays on KING 5 and streaming live on KING5.com. Contact New Day.