Bank of America has named The Challenge Program as a 2015 Neighborhood Builder.
The nonprofit is being recognized for its work to provide job training, education and job placement services to more than 300 at-risk youth in Wilmington. The Challenge Program is located in the East Side Wilmington neighborhood, where 64 percent of residents over the age of 18 are living in poverty.
Neighborhood Builders combines leadership development resources with $200,000 of flexible funding to help increase the program’s capacity and impact in the Wilmington community.
“We recognize that nonprofits and their leaders are on the frontlines as they tackle tough community issues that are vital to the well-being of Wilmington,” said Chip Rossi, Delaware market president, Bank of America. “The Challenge Program already provides critical assistance that helps individuals and families in Wilmington receive comprehensive services, job training and guidance, with the ultimate goal of achieving independence. The Neighborhood Builders grant will further support the Challenge Program by providing funding for its new social enterprise, CP Furniture − an initiative designed to create jobs and valuable work experiences for Challenge Program graduates.”
For more than 20 years, the Challenge Program has provided job training, education and case management for 18-24 year olds in Wilmington who lack skills, have low-incomes and are unemployed. Many trainees come from neighborhoods with systemic poverty and high crime rates, and where more than half of working-age adults are unemployed.
This year, the Challenge Program launched its new social enterprise, CP Furniture − a furniture production company that employs Challenge Program graduates, making use of the program’s experience in custom millwork. The revenue from furniture sales feeds back into the program to further support job training and education for future trainees. Most recently, CP Furniture was contracted to build custom office furnishings for the corporate office of honeygrow – a restaurant chain based in Philadelphia serving locally sourced salads, smoothies, stir-fries and desserts.
“True independence from unemployment and poverty is often only achieved when an individual can earn a position in a decent paying full-time job with benefits and a support structure, but this is not always easy,” said Andrew McKnight, executive director, Challenge Program. “Through Neighborhood Builders, we’re able to further support our program and provide the training and education these individuals need to achieve financial independence.”
