Wells Fargo Gives $500,000 to Seven Local Nonprofits

Wells Fargo & Company representatives presented big checks to seven local nonprofits Wednesday.

Each of the organizations recognized “have actively contributed to the health and well-being of our community,” said Steve Arnold, Wells Fargo South Central Texas area president. The groups represent a range of services and were chosen by Wells Fargo with Mayor Ivy Taylor’s input. They were honored for their efforts in three key areas: financial education and youth programs, housing and support services, and digital inclusion programs.

The organizations and the amounts they were rewarded were:

P16Plus Council of Greater Bexar County – $50,000
San Antonio Public Library Foundation – $50,000
San Antonio Foundation for Excellence in Education in SAISD – $75,000
San Antonio Housing Trust Foundation – $75,000
Family Services Association – $75,000
Education Investment Foundation $75,000
Local Initiative Support Corporation-San Antonio – $100,000

Steve Arnold, Wells Fargo South Central Texas area president, announces the grant recipients on the steps of City Hall. Photo by Kathryn Boyd-Batstone.

Mayor Ivy Taylor speaks about how the Wells Fargo local initiative grants will help San Antonio families. Photo by Kathryn Boyd-Batstone.

“They are touching on key initiatives that will make lives better for many San Antonians,” Taylor said. “They are truly engaged in social change and here at City Hall we want to be a partner and facilitate relationships like this one with Wells Fargo.”

Arnold also recognized the Wells Fargo NeighborhoodLIFT Program in San Antonio, a $6 million initiative meant to strengthen the city’s neighborhoods by boosting local homeownership. Through a rigorous application process, NeighborhoodLIFT provides grants, financial education, and down payment assistance to lower-income individuals and families. San Antonio joined the national, public-private initiative in 2014.

The program has created more than 12,000 homeowners in 46 cities across the United States, including San Antonio, Arnold said. Locally, the program is intended to “accelerate neighborhood recovery” and build invigorated San Antonio neighborhoods. So far, NeighborhoodLIFT has provided down payment assistance grants to 278 families in San Antonio, Arnold said.

“A family which is invested in a home is very likely to be invested in the neighborhood in which they move,” Arnold said. “Creating families with a stake (in their area) is the fabric of the community which hopefully brings better neighborhoods to everyone.”

CORRECTION: A previous version of this article stated that Wells Fargo gave $475,000 when it gave $500,000.

Top image: The 2016 Wells Fargo local initiatives grant recipients. Photo by Kathryn Boyd-Batstone.

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