A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM KATE BENEDICT AND ROGER HINSHAW

Each year, in the Portland market, Bank of America selects two local nonprofit organizations to receive the Neighborhood Builder award. The winning nonprofits each receive a $200,000 cash gift, as well as impactful leadership training for their staff. This Builder award is a major investment for Bank of America, and for the past 15 years, it's been the cornerstone of their local philanthropy efforts.

We are thrilled to announce that Financial Beginnings Oregon was selected as one of this year's $200,000 Builder winners. Financial Beginnings Oregon was selected through a very competitive process, where they rose to the top for their innovative work improving financial literacy for Oregonians.

This grant builds on the long storied partnership between our organizations that started many years ago. We are both pleased that our collaboration can further grow and evolve to have even greater scope and impact.

The timing of this $200,000 gift is especially strategic, since Financial Beginnings Oregon will use this new investment to launch the Bank of America Financial Empowerment Fellowship. With Bank of America's funds, Financial Beginnings Oregon will recruit and train a cohort of diverse student leaders to serve as fellows. Fellows will receive leadership and skills training, and will then teach Financial Beginnings Oregon's financial education programs in the community. These Fellows will not only build valuable skills, but will also directly impact the financial literacy of their communities.

Our communities need access to financial education opportunities that can prepare them to make daily financial decisions wisely and well, and help them develop healthy long-term financial habits. The Bank of America Financial Empowerment Fellowship will help Financial Beginnings Oregon accomplish just that, giving Oregonians a group of motivated young people who will bring financial education opportunities into our communities and help improve financial literacy for thousands of Oregonians each year.

Both Bank of America and Financial Beginnings Oregon look forward to the enhanced partnership between our organizations, where we will further our shared foal of creating meaningful financial education opportunities for thousands of Oregonians.

BUILDERS AWARD IN THE NEWS:

1. Portland Tribune - FINANCIAL BEGINNINGS OREGON RECEIVES BANK OF AMERICA BUILDERS AWARD

2. Portland Monthly - The Face of Creative Philanthropy Partnership

3. KATU - video below