Charleston – To recognize South Carolina Community Loan Fund for the positive impact it makes building financial confidence in Charleston, the SunTrust Foundation has awarded the organization with its annual Lighting the Way Award.
The award, which includes a $25,000 grant, is given to select nonprofits each year that have a specific focus on one or more of the Foundation’s four strategic financial well-being areas – financial education, financial counseling, career readiness/workforce development, and small business/entrepreneurship.
“We are honored to award South Carolina Community Loan Fund with our 2017 Lighting the Way Award,” said Mark A. Lattanzio, President of the Charleston Region at SunTrust Bank, speaking on behalf of the Foundation. “We are committed to helping people move from financial stress to confidence and know that by supporting organizations with the same goals, we can truly make a difference in people’s lives.”
This year the Lighting the Way Awards were given to 30 nonprofit organizations across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic region, totaling $800,000 in grants.
“The Lighting the Way grant will provide much needed equity capital for our organization, allowing us to provide more loans and technical assistance to support community development projects in underserved areas across South Carolina,” said Michelle Mapp, CEO of South Carolina Community Loan Fund. We are grateful to SunTrust for their ongoing partnership and commitment to our mission, and are honored to have been selected as an award recipient.”
Since its inception in 2008, the SunTrust Foundation has been committed to SunTrust’s purpose of Lighting the Way to Financial Well-Being through community partnerships with educational institutions and nonprofits. Today the Foundation has provided more than $112 million in grants, including last year’s total of $16.6 million in grants to more than 1,500 nonprofit organizations.
About SunTrust Foundation
The SunTrust Foundation is committed to SunTrust Bank’s purpose of Lighting the Way to Financial Well-Being by engaging with local and national organizations to advance financial confidence. Grants and activities focus primarily on financial education, financial counseling, career readiness and small business/entrepreneurship, in addition to local community grants. The SunTrust Foundation supports American Red Cross disaster relief efforts and contributes as a United Way Global Corporate Leader. Established in 2008, the SunTrust Foundation has proudly provided grants totaling more than $112 million throughout the United States.
About South Carolina Community Loan Fund
South Carolina Community Loan Fund is a nonprofit CDFI headquartered in Charleston. Its mission is to advance equitable access to capital by providing loans, technical assistance and advocacy for affordable housing, healthy food retail, community facilities and community business enterprise. Since its inception in 2004, it has financed more than $39 million in loans throughout the state, resulting in the completion of more than $246.3 million in community development projects. For more information, please visit www.sccommunityloanfund.org.
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