Howard Bank Pledges $500,000 to Key Non-Profits Focused on Workforce Development and Financial Education
Junior Achievement of Central Maryland and Humanim each will receive $250,000 from Baltimore’s largest independently owned bank.
Howard Bank, a growth-focused local bank serving businesses, professionals and individuals in the Greater Baltimore area, announced today it has pledged $500,000 to Junior Achievement of Central Maryland and to Humanim.
The $250,000 grant to Junior Achievement, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating young people to succeed in a rapidly changing economy, will be allocated over the next five years targeting expansion of its experiential capstone programming for thousands of students throughout the Baltimore area, as well as strengthening partnerships with other community organizations.
Humanim’s grant will be made over 10 years to support its growing workforce development division. The funds will be used for career training, job placement, and job support services for individuals who have encountered challenges to employment. Howard Bank’s grant will also help individuals and families adopt skills to achieve greater financial independence and long-term success, through Humanim’s family support services, which include wraparound supports such as financial coaching and its Match Savings program.
“Junior Achievement of Central Maryland and Humanim are two outstanding organizations that are making a positive impact on our community in workforce development both directly and through financial education,” said Mary Ann Scully, chairman and CEO of Howard Bank. “Financial education is the key to helping our young people prepare for the future, so they are job ready. Just as critical are efforts geared toward training people who struggle with employment so they can restart their careers and support their families. Howard Bank announced last year at the closing of our largest acquisition to date that our philanthropy focus would include workforce development and its precedent skills. ”
Junior Achievement serves more than 47,000 students in Central Maryland annually with a variety of hands-on work readiness and personal finance programs. JA programming connects classroom learning to the real world, and the students who participate are more likely to achieve higher levels of educational attainment, employment, income, business start-up, and social mobility than the general population.
“Howard Bank’s support is a tremendous boost for our organization and will allow us to expand our efforts to develop the next generation of career-ready, financially responsible citizens,” said Jennifer Bodensiek, president and CEO for Junior Achievement of Central Maryland. “We are grateful that Howard’s leadership places a priority on educating students on topics that are vital to support the region’s economy.”
Humanim has more than 40 diverse but interconnected programs and services ranging from career training and job development, to rehabilitation and support services. It is well known for restoring the iconic American Brewery, its Baltimore headquarters, and reviving a disinvested community with opportunity and jobs. Humanim currently operates five Baltimore-based social enterprises, as part of a strategic workforce development strategy to create jobs and job training opportunities for community members.
“Howard Bank’s generous grant will help us reach more individuals looking to find work and launch careers,” said Henry Posko, president and CEO of Humanim. “We can’t thank the bank enough for sharing our belief that every human being has potential and that it is our responsibility to erase barriers to good jobs that can strengthen individuals and families. Howard Bank’s commitment demonstrates how much it cares about the future of Baltimore city and the region.”
About Junior Achievement of Central Maryland
Junior Achievement of Central Maryland is part of the world’s largest organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. Through a dedicated volunteer network, JACMD provides hands-on programs that show more than 47,500 K-12 students each year the realities of how careers, money and business ownership work. JA experiences are proven to give students the edge in college completion, career readiness, earning potential, and business start-up. For more information, visit www.jamaryland.org.
About Humanim
Humanim is a Maryland nonprofit with an almost 50-year history of empowering individuals and communities through the areas of workforce development, human services, youth services, and social enterprise. Founded on the belief that every human being has potential and that work is transformative, Humanim is dedicated to supporting and empowering individuals who face social or economic challenges, by building pathways to economic equity, opportunity, and independence. For more information, visit https://humanim.wpengine.com.
Read the original press release here.