Funding will allow HumanKind to reach approximately 2,000 individuals through its Ways to Work program
LYNCHBURG, VA, March 15, 2024 — HumanKind today announced that it is one of the initial recipients of the Truist Community Catalyst Initiative, a three-year Community Reinvestment Act program supporting local efforts with statewide impact. This initiative will support 17 efforts across 13 states, impacting 54 communities, allowing local nonprofit organizations to better respond to critical community needs within their state.
The funding, provided by the Truist Charitable Fund—a donor-advised fund administered by The Winston-Salem Foundation, totals $5 million and will create significant impacts including placing over 1,000 individuals into livable wage jobs, developing or preserving 700 affordable housing units, deploying $65 million in loan capital through 500 small business and home loans, and providing 3,100 low- to moderate-income individuals with new access to essential community services.
HumanKind is one of the lead organizations named as a recipient.
HumanKind is a Virginia based nonprofit that serves as a statewide network of sponsored homes for adults with intellectual disabilities, foster care services, family support services, the Central Virginia region’s first Early Head Start centers, and Economic Resource Centers. Grant funds will expand the nonprofit’s Ways to Work program, which provides vehicle loans to individuals with credit profiles that prevent them from accessing mainstream financing along with targeted financial education and credit repair assistance. (Located in Lynchburg, Virginia, and expanding into Roanoke/Southwest Virginia with a focus on Essential Community Services, www.humankind.org)
HumanKind is currently serving people through Roanoke’s Envision Center and will be expanding service offerings to meet the growing needs of the community.
“This initiative from Truist gives the communities of the Roanoke area access to Ways to Work, a vehicle loan program that allows individuals who have had past credit issues to grow in their financial literacy and qualify for a fair-interest loan to purchase a personal vehicle,” said HumanKind’s President and CEO Stan Southworth. “Having access to transportation can have an incredible impact on a person’s life empowering them to find better employment and meet the needs of their daily lives more efficiently. It’s transformational.”
With a goal of increasing workforce mobility and improving financial education, HumanKind expects to support approximately 2,000 people in Virginia through its Ways to Work program, providing new vehicle loans, financial education workshops, budget assistance and other outreach programs.
“The goal of Truist’s Community Catalyst Initiative is to understand a state’s top critical needs and partner with nonprofits to address the issues by driving meaningful collaboration and change for the benefit of the community,” said Truist Chief CRA/Community Development Officer Anthony Weekly. “These organizations focus on creating innovative, scalable and sustainable ideas, and we look forward to positively impacting the lives of more than 10,000 people.”
The 2023-25 Truist Community Catalyst Initiative focuses on issues within four key focus areas: affordable housing, small business access to capital, workforce development, and essential community services, including transportation. As each program expands, grant recipients will have the opportunity to reapply for additional funding annually through 2025.
For a complete list of recipients representing 13 states, please view Truist’s press release here.
For more information about how Truist invests in communities, please visit www.truist.com/purpose/community.
About HumanKind
HumanKind has provided programs and services in communities throughout Virginia since 1903. Our mission is to strengthen individuals and families through care, counseling and education. Our programs include foster care, economic empowerment, early childhood, parent supports, and services for adults with developmental disabilities. Every day, we assist families in overcoming challenges and improving their quality of life. To learn more about the programs and services we offer and to join our mission, please visit, www.humankind.org.
About The Truist Charitable Fund
The Truist Charitable Fund (TCF) is committed to Truist Financial Corporation’s purpose to inspire and build better lives. TCF was established as a donor-advised fund and is administered by The Winston-Salem Foundation. TCF invests in local community organizations, focusing on grants that support initiatives and programs in the areas of educational equity, leadership development, career pathways, small business and community services. To learn more about Truist’s purpose, visit https://www.truist.com/who-we-are/about-truist.
About Truist
Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE: TFC) is a purpose-driven financial services company committed to inspiring and building better lives and communities. Truist has leading market share in many high-growth markets in the country and offers a wide range of products and services through our retail and small business banking, commercial banking, corporate and investment banking, insurance, wealth management, and specialized lending businesses. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Truist is a top 10 U.S. commercial bank with total assets of $535 billion as of Dec. 31, 2023. Truist Bank, Member FDIC. Learn more at Truist.com.
For further information: Kristen Fraser, media@truist.com
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FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Ashleigh Karol, Director of Communications
HumanKind
(434) 426-9834
akarol@humankind.org