The TD Charitable Foundation Invests More Than $5M To Strengthen Local Communities

CHERRY HILL, N.J., March 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The TD Charitable Foundation, the charitable giving arm of TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank^®, awarded more than $5.9M in grants to eighteen non-profit organizations supporting affordable housing, financial literacy/health, neighborhood revitalization, economic development, and human service needs in communities from Maine to Florida.

More than forty organizations were invited by the TD Charitable Foundation to submit program proposals that demonstrate innovation, creativity and the ability to develop local economic opportunities while improving social outcomes in a sustainable way.  Grants in the amount of $100,000 to $1,000,000 have been awarded as single payments or multi-year commitments over two ? three years.

The grants will enable these local organizations to reinvest in their communities and create long term equitable development. The financial support will contribute to job creation, opportunities for entrepreneurship, and aid in innovative financial product development.

"TD was very deliberate in partnering with organizations that work to find creative ways to empower the community and create self-sustainability," said Lisa Gruner, Head of Community and Marketing Services. "The grants will help to improve the quality of life in our communities and address the most pressing needs on a local level and we are looking forward to seeing the positive results."

Organizations receiving support include:

• Boston:
  
  Urban Edge ? The Urban Edge Jackson Square Recreation Center (JSRC) provides Boston youth and families with a safe and productive after school program. JSRC enables more than 3,000 youth to engage in healthy indoor and outdoor activities, receive academic support, and prepare students for college.
  
  
• Florida:
  
  Miami Dade University ? The Miami Dade University Jumpstart Microenterprises initiative is an 18-month program targeting 75 micro-enterprises over three cohorts. The boot-camp training program and follow-up coaching educates micro-business owners in Miami-Dade County on how to grow their enterprises, create jobs and increase their household incomes.
  
  
• New Jersey:
  
  Gateway Community Development Corp ? The Gateway Community Development Corp offers fresh produce to local area soup kitchens, emergency food pantries, senior centers and Cumberland and Salem County Family Success Centers and is adding two new hydroponic greenhouses to its farm to increase food production.
  
  Newark Venture Partners through the Community Foundation of New Jersey ? The Newark Venture Partners, a for-profit venture capital fund, provides capital, mentoring and technical expertise to a new generation of innovative entrepreneurs dedicated to catalyzing development in the technology ecosystem in Newark.
  
  Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey, Inc. ? The Housing and Community Development Network of NJ's, Build a Thriving NJ Program, offers housing counseling and homeowner readiness seminars, capacity building activities, and training and neighborhood investment and revitalization sessions to LMI residents throughout the state.
  
  
• New York:
  
  Grameen America ? Grameen America is the fastest-growing U.S. non-profit microfinance organization, located in NY but dedicated to helping women in LMI areas across the nation. Grameen focuses on the creation of small businesses to create better lives for women and their families.
  
  Cities for Financial Empowerment (CFE) Fund ? CFE Fund works to ensure that everyone has access to safe and affordable financial products and services by working with local municipalities to develop, launch, replicate and test financial empowerment strategies.
  
  The Financial Clinic ? The Financial Clinic builds the financial security of working people with low-income through direct service, capacity building with other nonprofits systems-level solutions, and social innovations to create lasting change.
  
  Brooklyn Alliance ? The 5 Chamber Alliance and its network of partners provides education to businesses and individuals throughout NYC through small business and home buyer seminars, business resource sessions, and business certification opportunities.
  
  Queens Library ? The Queens Library program, STACKS, addresses the needs of school-age children and families by offering enrichment activities focused on strengthening skill and understanding in the areas of math, English and literacy, science and art, study skills, problem-solving, self-efficacy, library research and resources, and project-based learning.
  
  Accion East, Inc. ? Accion's Maine to Miami Small Business Lending and Financial Education Program provides small business owners with financing ranging from $500 to $250,000, complemented by in-depth guidance, coaching and an entire support system of peers, mentors and resources.
  
  Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) ? LISC will implement equitable community development strategies, with a focus on preserving and developing affordable housing, across nine shared markets:  Boston, Connecticut, Hartford, Jacksonville, New York City, Newark, Philadelphia, Rhode Island, and Washington, D.C.
  
  
• Pennsylvania:
  
  Cristo Rey High School ? The Cristo Rey High School Financial Literacy Lab and Curriculum, offered through TD Bank, is a holistic approach to educating the Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School (CRPHS) community on how to navigate banking systems and best manage their fiscal future. The program targets four demographics at CRPHS: students, families, faculty/staff, and the local community.
  
  
• Vermont:
  
  Housing Vermont ? The Housing Vermont Project will renovate nine single family homes to address energy conservation and health issues, correct code deficiencies, replace or repair failed major building systems, and upgrade interiors and exteriors.  When the renovations are completed, the homes will be sold to households with incomes below 80% of the HUD area median with favorable financing which will retain affordability for future homebuyers. 
  
  
• Virginia:
  
  Society for Financial Education & Professional Development (SFE&PD) ? SFE&PD provides financial education programs to underserved populations and LMI individuals through partnerships with historically black colleges and universities.
  
  
• Washington, DC:
  
  Building Bridges Across the River ? Building Bridges Across the River works to improve the quality of life for children and adults who reside east of the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C. by providing high quality educational, health, cultural, recreation, and social service programs. Its 11^th Street Bridge project will be DC's first elevated public park and will provide the Anacostia community with a new venue for healthy recreation, environmental education and the arts.
  
  National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations ? The Thriving Networks Technical Assistance Initiative will strengthen local and state CED associations by building capacity for local economic growth at the association level, developing new resources, inspiring innovative models, and improving delivery of community development investments.
  
  National Community Reinvestment Coalition, Inc. (NCRC) ? NCRC provides counseling to families experiencing foreclosure or have houses that are in jeopardy. Its reach extends across the U.S. and is concentrated in metropolitan areas where the housing and economic crises have been most impactful. The programs housing and counseling training locations are strategically placed in areas where housing services are not available.

To learn more about the program and how the grants will make an impact in the community, view videos about current winners here.

As part of TD Bank's commitment to giving back to the community, the TD Charitable Foundation supports non-profit organizations committed to affordable housing, economic development, neighborhood revitalization, financial literacy, and human services.

About the TD Charitable Foundation

The TD Charitable Foundation is the charitable giving arm of TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank®, one of the 10 largest commercial banking organizations in the United States. The Foundation's mission is to support, respect and improve the quality of life in the diverse communities where we live and do business. Since its inception in 2002, the Foundation has distributed more than $187.7 million and more than 18,515 grants in charitable donations from Maine to Florida. The TD Charitable Foundation focuses on supporting the following community needs: affordable housing, economic development, neighborhood revitalization, financial literacy, and human services. More information on the TD Charitable Foundation, including an online grant application, is available at www.TDBank.com.

About TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank^®

TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, is one of the 10 largest banks in the U.S., providing more than 9 million customers with a full range of retail, small business and commercial banking products and services at more than 1,200 convenient locations throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Metro D.C., the Carolinas and Florida. In addition, TD Bank and its subsidiaries offer customized private banking and wealth management services through TD Wealth^®, and vehicle financing and dealer commercial services through TD Auto Finance. TD Bank is headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J. To learn more, visit www.tdbank.com. Find TD Bank on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TDBank and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TDBank_US.

TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, is a member of TD Bank Group and a subsidiary of The Toronto-Dominion Bank of Toronto, Canada, a top 10 financial services company in North America. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges under the ticker symbol "TD". To learn more, visit www.td.com.

SOURCE TD Charitable Foundation