Left to Right: Bill Tommins, President, Bank of America Southern Connecticut; Joe Gianni, President, Bank of America Greater Hartford; Governor Ned Lamont; and Jason Jakubowski, President & CEO, Connecticut Foodshare. Photo courtesy of Bank of America.
Bank of America has donated a $185,000 to Connecticut Foodshare as part of an initiative to encourage bank employees to get a booster shot and help address food insecurity in the region.
Bank of America donated $100 for each bank employee who received a COVID-19 booster shot or vaccine and then notified the bank about the shot before the end of January, Bank of America said in a statement. The bank said it made an additional contribution to address the increased needs of hunger relief organizations across the country.
The donation is worth 370,000 meals for Connecticut Foodshare, formerly known as the Connecticut Food Bank & Foodshare, the statement said. Bank of America has a 22-year partnership with the organization.
According to Connecticut Foodshare, more than 428,000 people across the state, including 110,000 children, are food insecure. Connecticut Foodshare has seen demand increase up to 40 percent on specific food items.
“As the pandemic continues, hunger relief organizations throughout Connecticut face ongoing challenges due to increased demands for their services and rising food prices,” the statement said.
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said he was grateful to Connecticut Foodshare for its work to help residents throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The partnership [Connecticut Foodshare has] forged with Bank of America is exactly the type of partnership we need to continue this recovery,” Lamont said in the statement. “I also want to thank every Connecticut resident who continues to do the right thing to get vaccinated and boosted, and has put us in a place to be one of the most vaccinated states in the country. It’s because of you, and collaborations like this that we’re on the road to recovery.”
Through the employee booster initiative, Bank of America committed to donating a minimum of $25,000 in each of its 93 markets to local nonprofit partners as part of its vaccine booster effort.
Nationally, Bank of America’s initiative provided over $10.6 million in funding for food banks across the markets it serves, including $185,000 in Connecticut. The actual donation amounts differ from the number of boosters that were voluntarily reported by bank employees because Bank of America provided additional contributions to the total, the bank said.
“Bank of America has always encouraged our employees to get involved in charitable pursuits with paid time off, various volunteer opportunities, and a matching gifts program,” Joe Gianni, president of Bank of America’s Greater Hartford market, said in the statement. “It has been extraordinary to watch our teammates come together on this unique booster initiative that helps strengthen our community’s health and safety as well as supporting a cause that impacts so many individuals and families in our state.”
Connecticut Foodshare works with a combined network of over 700 partner programs, the statement said. Last year, Connecticut Foodshare distributed enough food to provide nearly 47 million meals through hunger relief programs, including food pantries, community kitchens, and emergency shelters, while working on long-term solutions that address food insecurity.
“The ongoing pandemic continues to put increased strain on food security for individuals and families across the state,” Bill Tommins, president of Bank of America’s Southern Connecticut market, said in the statement. “This program is a dual investment in our community and our teammates, supporting the overall health and wellness of the region. Our longstanding partner, Connecticut Foodshare, is a vital resource for fighting food insecurity, and we’re committed to supporting their efforts to provide for those in need.”
Bank of America said it has encouraged staff to get COVID-19 vaccinations since the summer of 2021, offering incentives such as paid time-off and $500 credits towards health benefit premiums.
