Bank of the West Announces Winners of the Sixth Annual Philanthropy Awards
Barrio Logan College Institute and Lava Mae each receive $100,000 grants and honored for their commitment to their communities
Barrio Logan College Institute and Lava Mae each receive $100,000 grants and honored for their commitment to their communities
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank of the West is proud to announce the winners of its sixth annual Philanthropy Awards, awarding $100,000 grants to Barrio Logan College Institute and Lava Mae for the Community Impact Award and Innovation Award, respectively. Through these awards, Bank of the West demonstrates its commitment to the community and honors organizations that are making strides to improve the quality of life for individuals and families. The winners of the two awards were honored at a dinner last evening at the Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts in Stanford, California, on the campus of Stanford University.
"Commitment to community is a core value for Bank of the West," said Michael Shepherd, Chairman and CEO of Bank of the West. "Along with the expertise we provide to help customers achieve their financial goals, we are proud to give back through corporate philanthropy, charitable investments and bank-wide volunteerism. By incorporating philanthropy into how we conduct business, we collaborate with more than 800 nonprofit organizations addressing vital issues and enhancing the quality of life in the communities where we live and work."
Nonprofit organizations are recognized in two categories:
Awardees were chosen by a jury comprised of internal committee members along with external nonprofit and public leaders who evaluated the applications on the above criteria and the participants' impact on the community. External judges included Jose Corona, Director of Equity and Strategic Partnerships for the City of Oakland, and Joanne Kelley, Executive Director of the Colorado Association of Funders.
Community Impact Award Winner
Barrio Logan College Institute, winner of the Community Impact Award, was founded on the principles that all students deserve access to college and that higher education can serve as a pathway out of poverty. They pursue their mission by providing comprehensive college-preparatory programs for disadvantaged students and their families starting in elementary school and continuing through college graduation.
For the majority of young people in the Barrio Logan neighborhood of San Diego, a college education feels out of reach. Through college-prep afterschool programs for local students that begin in third grade, Barrio Logan College Institute has helped 117 under-resourced students from this community make their college dreams a reality. 100% of its high school graduates enroll in a college or university each fall, and 90% of its alumni have graduated college or persist in college toward graduation. These alumni are on track for greater professional opportunity and have become positive role models for those who follow in their footsteps.
"We're honored to receive a Bank of the West Philanthropy Award," said Jose Cruz, Executive Director with Barrio Logan College Institute. "With this award, we'll be able to continue our mission to change the lives of underprivileged students by providing them with the education and positive role models that are proven to help break the cycle of poverty."
Innovation Award Winner
Lava Mae, recipient of the Innovation Award, was created in 2013 to address the needs of people experiencing homelessness who live on the streets of San Francisco, by giving them the ability to take a shower or use a private toilet.
With the official homeless count at more than 7,500, San Francisco struggles to accommodate basic sanitation needs through approximately 16 public shower stalls. The nonprofit turned a decommissioned Muni bus into a mobile shower facility and, in its first year of operation, provided more than 3,500 showers to 1,200 people.
Lava Mae's innovative approach not only addresses the dearth of public showers, but also through their "radical hospitality" has helped hundreds of people to clean up, feel better about themselves, and break down barriers if they're applying for jobs or simply stay clean to keep their jobs.
"The Bay Area is home to some of the smartest and most innovative minds in the world, and we wanted to put some of that talent and ingenuity to work helping to better the lives of the thousands of homeless people who live in this beautiful city," said Doniece Sandoval, founder of Lava Mae. "We're proud to share a hometown with Bank of the West and are thankful of the work that they and other members of the community here do to make a difference in the lives of our fellow San Franciscans."
Since 2002, Bank of the West has supported under-resourced communities with more than $95 billion in loans, investments and charitable contributions. Bank of the West strives to make a positive impact through volunteerism, philanthropy and responsible approaches to financial services. In doing so, the Bank aspires to help its neighborhoods grow into vibrant places to live and work.
To learn more about the award recipients, view the videos of Barrio Logan College Institute and Lava Mae, and join the discussion on Twitter with @BankoftheWest #PhilanthropyAwards.
About the Bank of the West Philanthropy Awards
Bank of the West's Wealth Management Group and Community Affairs Department created the Philanthropy Awards in 2010 to highlight the bank's commitment to community, and also honor organizations that are making tremendous strides in improving the quality of life for individuals and families within the communities it serves. Nonprofits are selected each year based on eligibility criteria, with final awardees being selected by a jury comprised of an internal selection committee along with external nonprofit and foundation leaders.
About Bank of the West Wealth Management Group
Bank of the West Wealth Management provides wealth planning, investment management*, personal banking, philanthropy, and trust services. The group is part of BNP Paribas' global wealth management business of more than 6,300 professionals in 30 countries worldwide with over $15.5 billion** in assets under management in the United States and €305 billion ($345 billion) in assets under management globally as of June 2015.
About Bank of the West
Bank of the West is a regional financial services company chartered in California and headquartered in San Francisco with $74 billion in assets as of September 31, 2015. Founded in 1874, Bank of the West provides a wide range of personal, commercial, wealth management and international banking services through more than 600 offices in 22 states and digital channels. Bank of the West is a subsidiary of BNP Paribas, which has a presence in 75 countries with 185,000 employees.
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Bank of the West operates under the name Bank of the West California.
Bank of the West Wealth Management offers products and services through Bank of the West and its various affiliates and subsidiaries.
*Securities and variable annuities are offered through BancWest Investment Services, a registered broker/dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC. Financial Advisors are Registered Representatives of BancWest Investment Services. Fixed annuities/insurance products are offered through BancWest Insurance Agency in California, (License #0C52321), through BancWest Insurance Agency in Utah and through BancWest Investment Services, Inc. in AZ, CO, IA, ID, KS, MN, MO, ND, NE, NM, NV, OK, OR, SD, WA, WI, WY, HI, GUAM and CNMI. Advisory Services are offered through BancWest Investment Services, an SEC-registered investment advisor. Bank of the West and its various affiliates and subsidiaries are not tax or legal advisors. BancWest Investment Services is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of the West and a part of the Wealth Management Group. BancWest Corporation is the holding company for Bank of the West. BancWest Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of BNP Paribas.
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SOURCE Bank of the West Wealth Management
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