It’s May 2023, and already been a busy year for the Santander Consumer USA Foundation. Many of the grantees who received support from the Foundation are putting the contributions to use in a variety of ways.
Many communities in which Santander Consumer USA associates live and work are being impacted positively through our partnerships. From A New Leaf’s eight-week training program to the expansion of mobile learning labs for the Dallas Innovation Alliance to supportive services for Dallas College’s entrepreneurial programs.
Dallas Innovation Alliance (Texas) Funding will support the Digital Ambassador Program with hyper-local community anchor site locations and expansion of the Mobile Learning Lab programs with STEAM programming and Wi-Fi support.
“As the Dallas Innovation Alliance scales its work in digital inclusion for our most vulnerable communities, continued support for our vision is critical,” commented Jennifer Sanders, Executive Director, Dallas Innovation Alliance. “Santander has been our most steadfast supporter in closing the digital divide. Since 2018 they have invested in our goals for the Mobile Learning Lab and Connected Dallas, and we are eternally grateful. This year we will reach thousands of residents because of Santander’s forward-thinking investment in our mission to create innovative solutions to complex challenges.”
The Dallas Innovation Alliance funding will help support the development of digital ambassadors who can impact our community, while the local community anchor sites will help with direct neighborhood service for those who need in-person access and assistance.
Dallas College (Texas) Funding will provide support for the Cultivate Small Business Program as a local business and mentor recruiter.
Another round one recipient is Dallas College Foundation and the Bill J. Priest Institute. The Institute will be working with Santander’s Cultivate Small Business Program to support the growth of early-stage woman-, BIPOC- and immigrant-owned food businesses in emerging neighborhoods in the Greater Dallas-Fort Worth area. This is the second year for this program to be supporting food-based entrepreneurs in Dallas.
“The Cultivate Small Business referral partner grant will help Dallas College create incredible impact for underrepresented food business entrepreneurs across DFW,” says Steve DeShazo, Dallas College Senior Director. “The Dallas food business ecosystem has great depth and breadth and Dallas College sits right in the middle of it all! With over 10,000 culinary and pastry alumni, partners like the Texas Restaurant Association and Texas Chefs Association, and hundreds of small business employer partners, Santander’s support of entrepreneurial enterprise will help them continue to evolve and grow their businesses and lift up these hard-working individuals striving to achieve the American dream.”
The following organizations also are part of the 2023 recipients so far, with many more to come.
A New Leaf (Arizona) Funding will support the BankWork$ Workforce Program by enrolling 200 individuals in an eight-week career training program where they will obtain employment with financial institutions. The Assets to Opportunity Match will provide for support for post-secondary education and small business development for 60 individuals.
Genesis Women’s Shelter (Texas) Funding for the Emergency Assistance and Save to Build Program will assist women and children as they transition from crisis to stability and will provide matching funds for 20 families that have saved prior to exiting transitional housing, with a goal that 90% of clients will improve their credit score.
New Friends New Life (Texas) Funding for the Economic Empowerment and Barrier Removal Initiative will address economic and legal barriers facing 250 adult survivors, a portion of funding will support financial literacy, employment coaching and benchmarked financial services and a portion will fund the recently launched legal advocacy clinic to create a legal action plan to address barriers to employment.
Save the Family (Arizona) Funding will support Family, Adults and Children Empowerment Services to include Case Management, Career Development and parent and children’s services in a 10-month program for 550 families.
Sojourner Center (Arizona) Funding will support program supportive services for the shelter including advocacy, helplines, legal services and housing.
The Concilio (Texas) Funding will support the Parents Advocating for Student Excellence parental engagement program and the Latino Capacity Model project.
Year Up (Florida, Texas) Funding would finance 400 students in three cities for workforce development with goals of employed graduates earning a starting wage of $18 per hour and 85% would be employed or enrolled in post-secondary education within four months of graduation.
