The Atlanta Police Department Adds a HOPE Inside Office to Downtown Headquarters

ATLANTA, Jan. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Atlanta Police Department (APD) has partnered with Operation HOPE to create a unique HOPE Inside program, designed to provide APD employees with financial literacy training and educate them on the importance of planning for the future. Utilizing funds secured through the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration, along with SunTrust Bank and the Atlanta Police Foundation, the HOPE Inside model will be conveniently available in the City of Atlanta's Public Safety Headquarters. This is the first alliance for a HOPE Inside within a U.S. Police Department; and is an historic step in the organization's support of law enforcement.

For more than 150 years the Atlanta Police Department has had a profound presence in the City of Atlanta. Its mission is to create a safer Atlanta by reducing crime, ensuring the safety of its citizens and building trust in partnership with the community. This new program with Operation HOPE is just one example of such partnerships.

"Financial literacy is an integral component for individuals on the road to economic empowerment," said Chief George Turner of the Atlanta Police Department. "Through this unique partnership with Operation HOPE, SunTrust Bank and our Atlanta Police Foundation, we are pleased to bring this life-changing opportunity to the employees of the Atlanta Police Department."   

The partnership between Operation HOPE and the APD is supported through matching funds from SunTrust and a federal grant. When combined, this union is intended to further HOPE's national initiative, Project 5117 which focuses on a broad range of financial services. For example, recipients will receive homeownership counseling, credit card debt management and assistance with elevating low credit scores.  

"The Atlanta Police department is dedicated to public safety and will now have the opportunity to empower their employees," said John Hope Bryant founder, chairman and CEO for Operation HOPE.  "Operation HOPE is pleased to bring these services to those that work so tirelessly to protect and serve our communities; it is great to give something back."

HOPE Insides are empowerment centers located within partner facilities that offer a range of economic empowerment tools. They are supported by a national alliance with the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the American Bankers Association and Protective Life, among other national partners. HOPE Inside furthers the goals of Project 5117 and HOPE's "Silver Rights" mission to empower the underserved. Currently, the organization operates 34 HOPE Inside locations in partnership with bank and government partners.

This year, Operation HOPE is pleased to welcome the Atlanta Police Department as co-conveners to the HOPE Global Forums | Annual meeting, January 13 - 15.

About Operation HOPE, Inc.
Since 1992, Operation HOPE has been moving America from Civil Rights to Silver Rights by providing financial and economic empowerment tools and services, earning it the distinction as the nonprofit private banker for the working poor. Through its core programs, HOPE has provided financial dignity and economic empowerment to over 2.6 million individuals worldwide, turning check cashing customers into banking customers, renters into homeowners, small business dreamers into small business owners and minimum wage workers into living wage consumers.
www.operationhope.org

About the Atlanta Police Foundation
The Atlanta Police Foundation (APF) was established in 2003 to provide vital support to the Mayor, the Chief of Police and the Atlanta Police Department. The organization is based on a public-private partnership model that has worked to secure and leverage private resources to fund high priority projects that are designed to enhance the City of Atlanta's ability to fight and prevent crime. As a result of the work of the APF, since 2003 there has been an increase in the number of police officers on the streets and an increase in the engagement of Atlanta's business community and neighborhood residents in fighting crime. Additionally, the City has experienced a 58 percent reduction in the violent crime rate and a 41 percent reduction in crimes overall. Our programs are strategically focused to complement the Atlanta Police Department's vision of becoming the safest, large city in America. We give high priority to programs that address the need for more police visibility and improved police operations. We also provide strategic counsel to the APD and aid in bringing private and public sector resources together for short and long range security planning for the City.
www.atlantapolicefoundation.org

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SOURCE Operation HOPE

Related Links

https://www.operationhope.org