Month: September 2023

Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog

U.S. Bank recently partnered together with Freedom Alliance and True Homes to honor one of our nation’s military heroes with the gift of a mortgage-free home. U.S. Army Private Second Class Roy Garcia and his family received the keys to their new home in Monroe, North Carolina, in a ceremony last week. Garcia enlisted in the Army as an infantryman in 2008, and two years later he and his unit were deployed to Kunar Province – which was among the most dangerous locations in Afghanistan at the time.

“Roy Garcia fought in battle and sacrificed for our nation,” said Tom Kilgannon, president of Freedom Alliance, a nonprofit that provides help and support to wounded troops and military families. “Like so many combat veterans, he now struggles with the physical and emotional wounds of war, but this home will help him provide for his family and focus on his rehabilitation.”

Since 2013, U.S. Bank and Freedom Alliance have donated a total of 25 homes overall with a total of $5.75 million.

For more about the home donation to the Garcia family, watch the video linked above.

Originally published on Illumina News Center

Illumina recently hosted 16 San Diego students for an intensive two-week paid summer program, thanks to a partnership with local nonprofit SD2, which gives underrepresented students unique access to STEM education and mentorships.

The students, who ranged from high school juniors to college freshmen, came to Illumina’s San Diego headquarters to acquire lab skills, network with Illumina employees, and learn about their many STEM career options.

“It is crucial for Illumina to have a diverse workforce to support genomics and other STEM fields,” says Sharon Vidal, the company’s global head of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). “By investing in community programs that support equitable access to STEM education early in their education, we can help students see themselves being key contributors as they pursue careers in the life sciences.”

Seeing themselves in STEM
The program was designed to inspire students from diverse backgrounds and to give Illumina employees a great opportunity to support their community. Illumina and SD2 took a holistic approach to the “boot camp”: Many of the participants face food insecurity or lack transportation, so the organizers worked to provide rides and meals. Throughout the two weeks, the intensive curriculum offered students a snapshot of what a career in STEM might look like.

“We wanted the students to leave with a stronger sense of belonging in STEM,” says Karmin Noar, vice president of Strategic Growth at SD2. “Most are low-income, first-generation students who come from underrepresented backgrounds, so it was really important for this to be a paid experience and provide opportunities for them to gain soft and technical skills.”

During the laboratory sections, the students learned about safety, basic pipetting, library preparation, and the different ways genomics can be applied. They were also given career and personal development support to help them better understand their strengths and tell their stories. Each student created an elevator pitch, wrote a résumé, built a LinkedIn profile, and developed a personal brand.

“There was a massive shift in the way the interns carried themselves from the beginning of the program to the end,” says Vanessa Light, Illumina’s senior manager of CSR. “By midweek, you could see the confidence in the way they walked the halls and engaged with employees. They knew they had a place at Illumina and were confident in the journey that had brought them here.”

The program was an eye-opener for many participants. One community college student assumed every Illumina employee had gone straight from high school to a four-year university. By the end of the experience, he had met scientists and other professionals who, like him, were first-generation; they had transferred from community college to a four-year university before landing a job at Illumina. These interactions inspired him to pursue a similar path.

“This experience changed the trajectory for many of our students,” says H. Puentes, SD2 co-founder, president, and CEO. “They left this experience inspired, knowledgeable, and confident to pursue careers in STEM.”

WASHINGTON, September 18, 2023 /3BL/ – The Wells Fargo Foundation has awarded $1.4 million in grants to Rebuilding Together, the leading national nonprofit organization repairing the homes of people in need and revitalizing communities nationwide. Through the 2023 Wells Fargo Builds program, this effort will support essential home repairs and safety modifications for up to 90 homes in 49 communities across the U.S. for veterans, older adults and other neighbors in need.

“Today, one in six Americans lives in an economically-distressed zip code. At Rebuilding Together, our work goes beyond the completion of home repairs – we are dedicated to transforming the lives of homeowners and their families,” said Caroline Blakey, President and CEO of Rebuilding Together. “The impact is profound and enduring, touching every aspect of their daily lives. By providing safe and accessible homes, we empower individuals, restore hope and foster a sense of belonging within their communities.”

The nationwide effort kicked off in Charlotte, North Carolina when approximately 80 volunteers from Wells Fargo, Rebuilding Together and the community came out to repair four homes in the beloved Hidden Valley community. Rebuilding Together of Greater Charlotte received a $50,000 grant to provide transformative repairs such as installing handrails and grab bars, full roof replacements, remodeling floors and more to ensure safe, secure and accessible homes.

“Homeownership provides family stability and an opportunity to build generational wealth, yet far too many people are living in homes that are in disrepair or are not equipped to meet their changing mobility needs around the home,” said Stacy Spann, head of Housing Access and Affordability Philanthropy at Wells Fargo. “Through our long‑standing collaboration with Rebuilding Together, we’re helping to restore and renovate distressed properties so families, veterans and older adults can remain in their homes and communities they love.”

Since 2010, Wells Fargo has donated more than $18 million to Rebuilding Together and its affiliates to support rebuilding efforts across the country, including providing essential home repairs, revitalizing communities, and helping veterans, older adults, people with disabilities, families with children and victims of disaster remain in their homes.

Photos and B-roll from the September 13 Charlotte kick-off event can be found here.

Rebuilding Together
Rebuilding Together is the leading national nonprofit organization repairing the homes of people in need and revitalizing our communities. Through its national network of affiliates, Rebuilding Together works proactively and collaboratively with community leaders, long-term residents, funders and volunteers to foster dialogue and create safe, healthy communities across the country. Learn more and get involved at rebuildingtogether.org.