The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation (AMBF) announced today that it will invest $2.4 million in the Westside Future Fund, which aims to strengthen communities in Atlanta’s Westside neighborhoods.
The investment follows an 18-month planning process by residents, community leaders and elected officials to identify neighborhood needs and priorities for improving education, health care services, business development and job opportunities. The AMBF funding will support programs focused on early childhood education; adult literacy; workforce development; entrepreneurship; healthy food access; job creation; and financial education for business owners and entrepreneurs.
The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation is dedicated to making measurable progress in the communities where it operates. The latest round of grants follows a $15 million commitment from the foundation over five years, which began with $10 million in support for WFF, followed by this $2.4 million for community programs and an additional $2.6 million announced earlier this year for affordable housing."We're committed to investing in these unique neighborhood assets that help our residents live healthy lives," said Arthur Blank at an event announcing the new grants."It's important to us because we believe they can be so effective at addressing complex problems that affect neighborhoods across Atlanta," he continued."It's also critical that we make measurable progress as part of our mission as a nonprofit organization."
"These investments reflect our commitment to impactful and innovative solutions," said Penelope McPhee, President of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. "The challenges we're working to address are complex; there are no easy answers or quick fixes. But working together, we can make measurable progress."
The foundation's $2.4 million in new Westside grants will support organizations including: Atlanta Community Food Bank; Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta; Georgia State University; Habitat for Humanity of Metro Atlanta/Greater Atlanta Chapter; LIFT Academy Charter School Network; StrivePartnerships Inc.; YMCA of Greater Atlanta and Youth Villages-Georgia.
With this new round of funding, we are making an impact in our communities by supporting residents as they navigate through the challenges of displacement and increasing their financial security.