BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – April 30, 2020 – The Regions Foundation, a nonprofit initiative of Regions Bank that supports community investments, on Thursday announced the latest in a series of grants to support organizations that are helping small businesses impacted by COVID-19.
Two organizations in Alabama are among those receiving grants in this latest installment:
- The Women’s Fund of Greater Birmingham: With a mission to accelerate economic opportunity for women and their families through philanthropy, research, and advocacy, the Women’s Fund of Greater Birmingham is delivering emergency philanthropy related to COVID-19. Specifically, the Rapid Operating and Relief (ROAR) for Women Fund is raising resources to support child care centers serving essential workers. The Women’s Fund is receiving a $50,000 grant from the Regions Foundation.
- Small Business Relief Fund – West Alabama Chamber: The Small Business Relief Fund was launched by the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama in partnership with the Community Foundation of West Alabama. The fund is geared toward businesses in nine West Alabama counties that have employed anywhere from two to 50 FTE (full-time equivalent) people and are experiencing financial difficulties prompted by COVID-19. The Small Business Relief Fund is receiving a $50,000 grant from the Regions Foundation.
Both organizations are working with businesses in several communities.
“The ongoing COVID pandemic has once again emphasized the inherent value of, and critical need for, quality child care across Alabama,” said Melanie R. Bridgeforth, MSW, President & CEO of the Women’s Fund of Greater Birmingham. “In the early days of the pandemic, we found no statewide, coordinated response to elevate and respond to the needs of the child care industry, so the Women’s Fund of Greater Birmingham launched the ROAR for Women Fund as a community response to fill this indispensable gap. It is critical that we put everything we have behind child care – an industry powered by women – while simultaneously meeting the needs of families and our state’s workforce.”
Jim Page, President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, added, “We are profoundly grateful for the Regions Foundation’s support of the Small Business Relief Fund. It is already providing desperately needed financial relief to many struggling small businesses in West Alabama. The Chamber is proud of the incredible relationship it has with Regions and is thankful for the community leadership shown by so many of its team members.”
Regions Bank leaders in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa commented on the importance of supporting community organizations as part of a comprehensive focus on meeting current needs.
The grants announced today by the Regions Foundation are part of an ongoing commitment to meet community needs during this crisis.
Alan Register, Birmingham Market Executive for Regions Bank
“The work of these organizations represents an important lifeline for Alabama business owners who are seeking assistance and guidance as they navigate the impacts of COVID-19,” said Alan Register, Birmingham Market Executive for Regions Bank. “The grants announced today by the Regions Foundation are part of an ongoing commitment to meet community needs during this crisis.”
“Regions Bank and the Regions Foundation are committed to helping our communities pull through this difficult time,” added Elizabeth Winter, Tuscaloosa Market Executive for Regions Bank. “The organizations receiving grants from the Regions Foundation are working directly with businesses to help them weather this storm. In addition, at Regions Bank, our financial professionals are staying connected with bank clients to discuss options that can help. We will continue to use our resources and experience to support long-term recovery.”
The grants announced by the Regions Foundation on Thursday are in addition to grants announced on April 24 for several Community Development Financial Institutions. The Regions Foundation continues to identify organizations for financial support, and more grants will be issued in the coming weeks. The Foundation also announced recently that it will match donations by Regions Bank associates to United Way organizations and Community Foundations responding to COVID-19 needs.
Also, Regions Bank has issued financial support to a variety of additional nonprofits, and the bank recently donated a series of advertisements to food banks as well. Through that donation, advertisements originally purchased by Regions to promote bank services were instead given to food banks to encourage viewers and readers to financially support food bank services.
Separately, Regions Bank continues to offer a series of options for customers suffering financial impacts from COVID-19. Additional information on Regions Bank resources can be found at www.regions.com/coronavirus.
About Regions Foundation
Regions Foundation supports community investments that positively impact the communities served by Regions Bank. The Foundation engages in a grantmaking program focused on priorities including economic and community development; education and workforce readiness; and financial wellness. The Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation funded primarily through contributions from Regions Bank.
About Regions Financial Corporation
Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE:RF), with $133 billion in assets, is a member of the S&P 500 Index and is one of the nation’s largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, wealth management, and mortgage products and services. Regions serves customers across the South, Midwest and Texas, and through its subsidiary, Regions Bank, operates approximately 1,400 banking offices and 2,000 ATMs. Regions Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. Additional information about Regions and its full line of products and services can be found at www.regions.com.