Bank of America has announced the second-ever group of honorees of its Neighborhood Builders: Racial Equality Award.

Launched in March 2022, the award recognizes the impactful work of leaders and organizations that strive to advance racial equity and economic opportunity in Black, Hispanic-Latino, Asian American, and Native American communities.

The five honorees were selected for their extraordinary contributions toward breaking racial barriers and creating opportunities for people of color across the country. The awardees have the opportunity to direct a $200,000 grant to a nonprofit of their choice, while the selected organizations can participate in the company’s year-long Neighborhood Builders Leadership Program, which provides strategic growth and development training to establish long-term success. 

“At Bank of America, supporting nonprofits and their leaders has been core to our commitment to advancing racial equality and economic opportunity,” said Ebony Thomas, President of the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, in a press release. 

“Through this award, Bank of America is recognizing a diverse slate of inspiring leaders who are investing in their communities… and addressing the specific issues impacting them,” she added. 

The second group of awardees for the Neighborhood Builders: Racial Equality Award are: 

 Calvin Holmes of Chicago Community Loan Fund (CCLF) – Chicago, IL

Calvin L. Holmes has served as the President of Chicago Community Loan Fund (CCLF) since 1998. With a career in community development spanning more than three decades, Holmes has developed into a recognized expert in community development finance and issues involving access to capital.

After being nominated by the local market team in Chicago for his impact in the community, he plans to direct Bank of America’s funding to the Chicago Community Loan Fund. 

Vida Lin of Asian Community Development Council (ACDC) – Las Vegas, NV

Vida Chan Lin has worked closely with the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community for the past 28 years. She is the Founder and President of the Asian Community Development Council (ACDC), the first non-profit community development corporation in Nevada established to educate, connect and empower the fastest-growing demographic in the United States. 

Lin plans to direct Bank of America’s funding to the Asian Community Development Council, whose mission is to improve the general well-being and education of the Asian, Pacific Islander and other ethnic communities in the greater Nevada community. 

Arcenio López of Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) – Ventura, CA

Arcenio López is a Ñuu Savi leader from Oaxaca, México, dedicated to elevating the voices of Hispanic-Latino indigenous people across California.

After immigrating to the U.S., he worked as a farmworker in strawberry fields before he was hired by the Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) as its first community organizer and eventually became its first indigenous Executive Director.

López plans to direct Bank of America’s funding to the Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project, whose mission is to support, organize and empower the indigenous migrant communities in California’s Central Coast.

David Robinson of Admiral Capital Group – San Antonio, TX

David Robinson is a former NBA center for the San Antonio Spurs and Co-Founder of Admiral Capital Group, where he has focused on private equity and real estate programs and projects that create a positive social impact. 

Robinson graduated with a mathematics degree from the U.S. Naval Academy and honored his military commitment to serve two years in the Navy before joining the National Basketball Association, where he spent 14 years with the Spurs. 

During his NBA career, Robinson won two NBA championships, an NBA MVP, a Defensive Player of the Year award, and two Olympic Gold Medals. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009. 

Robinson is recognized as one of the preeminent philanthropists in professional sports, leading to the NBA’s creation of the David Robinson Plaque, which is awarded to current players in recognition of their outstanding community service. 

Robinson plans to direct Bank of America’s funding to the Friends of Carver, which supports the IDEA Public Schools system in San Antonio, Texas.

Mary Kim Titla of United National Indian Tribal Youth (UNITY) – Mesa, AZ  

Mary Kim Titla is the Executive Director of United National Indian Tribal Youth, Inc. (UNITY), a high-impact Native youth development nonprofit. 

Born on the San Carlos Apache Reservation, Titla was Arizona’s first Native American TV news reporter.

She carried her passion to UNITY, where as the Executive Director, she leads offers to foster the spiritual, mental, physical, and social development of Native youth. 

Titla plans to direct Bank of America’s funding to United National Indian Tribal Youth, Inc.

“We are proud to honor their dedication and work supporting communities of color,” said Thomas of the honorees.

In addition to the award winners, Bank of America has also announced a $24 million investment in support of nonprofit leadership and sustainability. This investment is through Bank of America’s Neighborhood Builders® and Neighborhood Champions, its signature philanthropic programs that provide funding and leadership training to nonprofits, advancing economic mobility and enriching underserved neighborhoods. 

Since the launch of those programs in 2004, Bank of America has invested more than $300 million in 92 communities across the nation, partnered with more than 1,500 nonprofits, and helped more than 3,000 nonprofit leaders strengthen their leadership. It has set itself apart as one of the nation’s largest philanthropic investments in nonprofit leadership development.