HANDY, an award-winning nonprofit organization that provides essential services to foster children in Broward County, has been named as one of the 2022 Bank of America Neighborhood Builders® awardees for its work in the community to remove economic barriers and foster economic opportunity. The $200,000 multi-year grant will help the organization expand its programs and services to address housing, education, employment, and basic needs for families and underserved youth.

“Nonprofits are the backbone to our Broward County community as they are dedicated to understanding the obstacles many individuals, families and community members are experiencing,” Lori Chevy says, president of Bank of America Fort Lauderdale. “HANDY and TSIC were selected as Neighborhood Builders for their work to develop programs and services that will help alleviate or eliminate these barriers. It’s important that we direct not only capital, but also the necessary resources and training to help position these nonprofits and their leadership team for long-term success as they grow strategically and make a positive impact.”

Bank of America’s funding will provide more resources for HANDY’s NeighborhoodCollective program, a collaboration between HANDY, HOMES and Community Based Connection Inc., which offers case management, job coaching and placement, educational support and housing retention services. HANDY Vice President of Operations Kathleen Docteur will lead the program and participate in leadership development to further HANDY’s community impact approach and foundational tools for effective impact.

“HANDY believes in building a sustainable neighborhood by embracing one family at a time, giving them the best that is within us,” Kirk Brown says, CEO of HANDY. “As cultivators of social change for the past 38 years, HANDY is honored that Bank of America has partnered with us to help fulfill our mission.”

In Broward County, 29 nonprofits have been selected as Neighborhood Builders, with the bank investing more than $5 million into these local organizations since 2004. The invitation-only program is highly competitive, and organizations are selected by a committee comprised of community leaders and past Neighborhood Builders honorees.