December 4, 2023
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–In recognition of their efforts to combat youth homelessness in New Jersey, Anchor House, a Trenton-based nonprofit, has been honored with the Bank of America Neighborhood Builders® Award. This accolade comes with a multi-year grant of $200,000, allowing Anchor House to enhance their existing programs and extend their impact in Mercer County.
Anchor House has been at the forefront of preventing and ending youth homelessness while preparing youth to live productive and independent lives for 45 years. The nonprofit provides the only youth shelter, transitional living, and street outreach program targeting youth in Mercer County, and one of two supportive housing programs in the county for young adults.
The grant from Bank of America will assist in hiring staff and opening a clinical department to increase mental and behavioral health services in Mercer County, expand the Rapid Rehousing Program and explore direct leasing through building acquisition/ownership, purchase a programmatic database and more.
“This year, Anchor House is celebrating 45 years of service to prevent and end youth homelessness in Mercer County,” said Kim McNear, executive director, Anchor House. “A recent report shows that there was a 34% increase in homelessness in Mercer County between 2022 and 2023 and that in 2023, 28% of those experiencing homelessness in this community were youth under 18, demonstrating the need for Anchor House’s programs. This impactful grant from Bank of America will help us continue to provide hope and life-changing programs to hundreds of youth, while also executing our three-year strategic plan.”
In addition to the financial support, Anchor House will receive comprehensive leadership training for both its executive director and an emerging leader within the organization. The training will cover various topics, including financial sustainability, human capital management, and strategic storytelling.
“Anchor House and CUMAC address significant needs in our New Jersey communities,” said Alberto Garofalo, president, Bank of America New Jersey. “Providing these nonprofits with flexible funding and leadership training not only positions them for sustainable, long-term success, but also demonstrates our commitment to creating real change in the places where we live and work.”
Bank of America’s Neighborhood Builders® is an invitation-only highly competitive program and one of the largest philanthropic investments into nonprofit leadership development in the nation. Nonprofits are selected by a committee comprised of community leaders and past Builders awardees. In New Jersey, 40 nonprofits have been selected as Neighborhood Builders since 2004, with the bank investing $8 million into these local organizations.
Since 2004, Bank of America has invested more than $300 million in nearly 100 communities across the U.S., partnered with more than 1,600 nonprofits, and helped more than 3,000 nonprofit leaders strengthen their leadership skills through the Neighborhood Builders and Champions program.
