Bank of America has named Benedict College B.E.S.T. Lives Center as its 2025 Neighborhood Builder® for its work to provide educational and workforce development opportunities in the community.
Bank of America’s signature Neighborhood Builders program continues to be one of the nation’s largest philanthropic investments into nonprofit leadership development, while providing unique multiyear flexible grant funding annually to high-impact nonprofits in communities nationwide.
As a Neighborhood Builder, the Benedict Empowers Students and Transforms (B.E.S.T.) Lives Center is awarded a $ 50,000 grant over two years, leadership training for the executive director and an emerging leader and the opportunity to connect with nonprofits in a peer network. Since the program’s inception, seven nonprofits have been selected as Neighborhood Builders in Columbia, with the bank investing more than $350,000 in philanthropic capital into these nonprofits.
“The B.E.S.T. Lives Center provides valuable support for students of all backgrounds pursuing education, helping them build pathways to long-term success, as well as supporting the region’s workforce development needs,” said Vaughn Reynolds, president, Bank of America Columbia. “Through flexible funding and comprehensive leadership training, our
Neighborhood Builders program helps organizations like the Center promote economic opportunity for individuals and families in our communities.”
The B.E.S.T. Lives Center is an innovative learning hub dedicated to empowering military families, former foster youth, formerly incarcerated individuals, and adult learners, while remaining true to the mission of the College. The Center addresses workforce development concerns and barriers to educational access by assisting individuals with enrollment, financial assistance, and support services while attending Benedict College.
“With the generous support from Bank of America through the Neighborhood Builders grant, the Benedict College B.E.S.T. Lives Center is well-positioned to enhance its innovative Drone
Program and empower community members with job training and new skills. We are particularly excited about the leadership training provided to our administrators, which will reinforce our development as community leaders, “said Dr. Vanessa Harris, Executive Director for B.E.S.T. Lives Center. “This partnership reflects our unwavering commitment to fostering future leaders and advancing technology education within our community.”
Neighborhood Builders is part of the bank’s longstanding efforts to build thriving communities by addressing issues fundamental to economic opportunity. Since 2004, Bank of America’s Neighborhood Builders program has invested more than $346 million in communities across the U.S. and trained more than 4,000 leaders at nearly 2,000 U.S. nonprofits.
