Celebrating 20 Years of Nonprofit Investments in Miami, BofA Announces
WOW Center AND Friends of the Underline as its 2024 Neighborhood Builder Honorees
Each Receives a Multiyear Grant & Comprehensive Leadership Training to Expand Critical Services Locally  
 
MIAMI – Celebrating its 20th year, 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 nearly 100 communities nationwide.
In Miami, Bank of America has named WOW Center and Friends of the Underline as its 2024 Neighborhood
Builders for their work to uplift and provide opportunities for local individuals in the community.
 
Specifically, both Miami nonprofits are each awarded a $200,000 grant over two years, comprehensive leadership
training for each organization’s executive director and an emerging leader, and access to a national network of
nonprofit peers. Since the program’s inception in 2004, over 30 nonprofits have been selected as Neighborhood
Builders in Miami, with the bank investing more than $6 million in philanthropic capital into these nonprofits.  
Nationwide since 2004, Bank of America has invested over $300 million into nearly 1,800 nonprofits and helped
more than 3,000 nonprofit leaders strengthen their leadership skills through the Neighborhood Builders program.
“This year we celebrate 20 years of strengthening Miami nonprofits that provide solutions to local challenges and
promote economic advancement,” said Gene Schaefer, president, Bank of America Miami. “Providing these
nonprofits with flexible funding and comprehensive leadership training helps them address critical needs and
create meaningful lasting change in our communities. Countless individuals, families and neighborhoods have felt
the profound impact that these 40 Neighborhood Builder nonprofits have had in Miami over the past two
decades.” 

WOW Center is an Adult Day Training (ADT) center that provides opportunities and resources to over 200 local
adults with developmental disabilities. The center offers a variety of programs to help foster growth and
independence, including programs involving life skills, art, sports, music therapy, supported employment, therapy
services and workforce training. This new grant funding will allow the WOW Center to double its efforts offering
the kind of personalized support and tailored goal setting that help adults with disabilities thrive and gain
essential life skills.

“We are deeply grateful to Bank of America for the prestigious Neighborhood Builders award, which empowers us
to strengthen our leadership culture and expand our reach. This support brings us closer to our vision, opening
doors to opportunities and resources so that young and aging adults with intellectual and developmental
disabilities can live, work, and fully enjoy life throughout our community.”

Friends of the Underline is a nonprofit that aims to transform the underutilized land below Miami’s Metrorail into
a 10-mile iconic linear park. This Underline project not only connects communities and creates over 120 acres of
restored natural habitats, but it also offers a sustainable workforce initiative called Green Leaders, which
collaborates with local horticulture and technology experts to upskill local residents. The funding from the bank
will support the organization as it continues to create sustainable income opportunities and foster a more
resilient community.

“The Underline is honored to be selected for this highly competitive grant,” said Patrice Gillespie Smith, President
& COO of Friends of The Underline. “Thanks to Bank of America’s financial support and executive development,
our park will be positioned to grow community impact through more environmental programs and green jobs that
will ultimately enhance Miami’s resilience.”

The Neighborhood Builders invitation-only program is highly competitive. Nonprofits are selected by a committee
comprised of community leaders and past Neighborhood Builders awardees. The first markets Bank of America
launched the Neighborhood Builders program in 2004 were: Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Broward, Charlotte,
Chicago, Dallas, Hartford, Houston, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, Nashville, Newark,
New York, Oakland, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, St.
Louis, Tampa and Washington, DC.

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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