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(L-R) Joe Moskos, President, Central Florida Bank of America; Shari Vander Wiede, Director of Development of Shepherd’s Hope; Cindi Kopelman, President of Shepherd’s Hope; and Gail Clark-Bittman, Chair-elect of Shepherd’s Hope Board of Directors.

As part of an ongoing effort to stimulate economic vitality in Florida and in communities across the nation, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation is providing $3.15 million in flexible funding and leadership training to local Florida nonprofits in seven markets through its Neighborhood Excellence Initiative, bringing the bank’s total commitment in Florida through the program to more than $21 million since 2004.

Locally, “Neighborhood Builder” grants of $200,000 each have been awarded to Jewish Family Services (JFS) of Greater Orlando in Winter Park and to Shepherd’s Hope in Orlando. JFS provides social services to at-risk children, needy families, frail elderly, homeless and mentally ill people in Orange, Seminole and Osceola Counties, while Shepherd’s Hope provides healthcare for the uninsured through nine neighborhood-based free clinics. They have over 2,000 volunteers.

“Through our Neighborhood Excellence Initiative, we are helping to generate meaningful and cumulative economic and social impact at the local level where it’s needed most,” said Michael Fields, Bank of America’s Florida state market president. “By supporting communities throughout Florida and across the country, we are leveraging the combined strength of our philanthropy and lending and investing initiatives to help set opportunity in motion for organizations, families, individuals and entire neighborhoods.”

Apopka-based Shepherd’s Hope is a faith-based nonprofit that collaborates with four public schools, 20 faith communities, 10 hospitals, multiple community agencies and over 2,000 volunteers to provide free healthcare to the community. Partners, including schools or houses of worship provide free space for evening and Saturday morning hours in their existing facilities; volunteers staff the clinics; hospitals and diagnostic partners donate lab and radiology services; and county health agencies provide follow-up and surgeries.

“When there is a need in the community, Shepherd’s Hope seeks a way to fill it,” said Shari Vander Wiede, director of development. Specialty daytime clinics are available for cardiology, dermatology, ophthalmology, urology, orthopedics, gynecology, hematology and internal medicine on an appointment basis for patients referred from the emergency room or a Shepherd’s Hope evening walk-in center. Shepherd’s Hope volunteers provided healthcare services to 17,500 patients in Orange, Seminole and surrounding counties in 2010.

According to Vander Wiede, the grant will be used toward patient care in the form of medicine and medical supplies. “We are delighted to receive this grant...it helps to go into the new year knowing we have this money available.”

Jewish Family Services is a non-profit human service agency serving people of all ages and all walks of life, regardless of race or religion, through programs for families, women and children including counseling, emergency services and online courses. Through its two locations—in Winter Park and Orlando, and assisted by numerous corporate and faith-based partners, JFS serves more than 10,000 people on an annual basis.

The Bank of America Charitable Foundation’s Neighborhood Excellence Initiative annually recognizes organizations, individuals and students who have shown a commitment to improving their communities. Since 2003, the Foundation has committed more than $110 million globally to the NEI program according to a friend of the organization.

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Bank of America, free clinics, Jewish Family Services, Neighborhood Builder grant, Shepherd’s Hope

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