BofA Names Children First as its 2024 Neighborhood Champion, Celebrating 5 Years of Non-Profit Investments in Sarasota/Manatee

SARASOTA, Fla. – Bank of America announced today that Children First, the exclusive provider of Head Start and Early Head Start services for Sarasota County, has been named as the 2024 Bank of America Neighborhood Champion in Sarasota/Manatee for its work to strengthen families and create pathways for economic advancement. 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.
 
As a Neighborhood Champion, Children First is awarded 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 Sarasota/Manatee nonprofits that provide solutions to local challenges and promote economic advancement through Neighborhood Champions," said Erik Vatter, president, Bank of America Sarasota/Manatee. “Providing these high-impact nonprofits with flexible funding and leadership training helps them address critical needs and create meaningful lasting change in our communities.” 
 
Children First serves nearly 1,100 individuals each day across multiple sites in Sarasota, Venice and North Port. Recognized in the top 1% of over 1,800 programs nationwide, the agency is a four-time designated Head Start Program of Excellence, demonstrating a commitment to excellence in early childhood education and family strengthening.
 
“Bank of America’s investment in Children First through the Neighborhood Champions program is a powerful demonstration of their commitment to creating lasting, positive change for our community,” said Philip Tavill, President & CEO, Children First. “This partnership helps provide the children and families we serve with the resources and opportunities they need to achieve self-sufficiency and success.”
 
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.
 
About Children First:
Founded in 1961 and ranked in the top 1% out of over 1,800 Head Starts nationwide, Children First strengthens children and families by improving the quality of their lives through a comprehensive approach to development, education, health, and well-being. At multiple sites throughout Sarasota County, Children First offers full-day preschool, infant and toddler care, and nutrition and health care assistance to children ages birth to five years old from low-income families. Through Children First, the children receive the social and cognitive skills needed to enter kindergarten and elementary school on track. For more information, call (941) 953-3877 or go to childrenfirst.net.
 
About Bank of America:
Bank of America is one of the world’s leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 69 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 3,700 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs (automated teller machines) and award-winning digital banking with approximately 58 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 4 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BAC).
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