CONTACT: Brand New Day, Inc., Jacqueline Jenkins (908) 282-0781, ext. 146
176 First Street, P.O. Box 6803
Elizabeth, NJ 07206
(908) 282-0781, Fax: (908) 282-0788
E-mail:
Website:
Bank of America Awards Brand New Day, Inc. $100K to
Give Youth a Second Chance!
Elizabeth, NJ: Bank of America recently awarded $100K to Brand New Day, Inc. for year two funding through theirNeighborhood Excellence Initiative®. As a Neighborhood Builder® Winner, Brand New Dayreceived $200K over two years for core operating support for their YouthBuild program. YouthBuild Elizabeth is a community development program that simultaneously addresses core issues facing youth in low-income communities such as education, housing, employment and crime. Brand New Day’s goal for YouthBuild Elizabeth is to help young people ages 16-24 obtain their GED or high school diploma, learn job skills that transforms their lives and teach them to serve their communities by building affordable housing.
Since 2004, Bank of America has invested millions through the Neighborhood Excellence Initiative to recognize, nurture and reward organizations, local heroes and student leaders in 45 of the bank’s markets. By providing capacity-building for nonprofits through leadership development and mission based-funding, Bank of America continues to strengthen the economic and social health of the communities they serve.
In November 2010, seventy-five youth enrolled in the YouthBuild Elizabeth program, and diligently started working towards their GED and NCCR Construction Trade Certification. On September 1, 2011, thirty students took part in the first inaugural commencement ceremony held at Union County College. Throughout the commencement program, several students told their stories of transformation, how they reached far beyond their immediate surroundings to establish concrete pathways to career attainment and leadership development while reducing the recidivism rate. Each story became an exciting, impactful, and tear-provoking moment for the entire audience.
On that day, students heard a constant message of “A Second Chances,” from Mayor Christopher Bollowage and Senator Lesniak who expressed congratulations, and shared their own stories of transformation. Both told the students, that everybody deserves a second chance, and encouraged them not to quit.
Krishna Garlic, Chief Executive Officer of Brand New Day, Inc. expressed tothe students and families how proud she was of their accomplishments, success, and that all the hard work was a testimony to the day.
YouthBuild Elizabeth is now enrolling new youth for the fall session 2011. If you need further information about YouthBuild Elizabeth, please contact: Jasmine Wheeler, Director YouthBuild Elizabeth at (908) 926-9500.