West Town, Chinatown organizations honored as neighborhood builders 

By Susan Fong 

During a recent awards dinner Bank of America Charitable Foundation recognized local leaders and organizations by giving $450,000 to its Neighborhood Excellence Initiative award winners. 

The initiative covers three categories: Neighborhood Builders (non-profits and organizations that promote vibrant communities), Local Heroes (community leaders contributing significantly to their neighborhoods’ health), and Student Leaders (exemplary high school students interested in improving their neighborhoods). 

The foundation chose Erie Neighborhood House (ENH) and the Chinese American Service League (CASL) as this year’s Neighborhood Builders. The organizations will receive $200,000 each in unrestricted funds over a two-year period. CASL founder Bernarda Wong and ENH Executive Director Rick Estrada received the awards for their organizations. Besides the monetary awards, the foundation will provide leadership development training for the top executive and an emerging leader from each organization.

            Estrada said Bank of America recognized ENH "as an institution with a time-tested mission that continues to be relevant because of its use of entrepreneurial responses to adapt to changing community needs." ENH helps low-income communities, serving more than 5,000 individuals annually.

"What characterizes our organization," explained Erie's Communications Coordinator Corinne Reynolds, "is that we focus on education, leadership, and advocacy skills at every level."

            Estrada added ENH exists to provide the "tools for success."

            ENH has earmarked its award for staff development and extending bilingual dimensions for all its sites and for its nationally recognized after-school youth program, which has doubled in size since Erie opened its own charter school.

CASL will use its award to strengthen its development infrastructure and for staff development. It also will develop new programs aimed at professionals who are children of earlier immigrants and want to return and help the organization.

Since 1978, CASL has grown into the largest and most comprehensive Asian based social service agency in the Midwest. Reaching more than 18,000 clients this past year, CASL acts as "family" to newly arrived Chinese immigrants and low-income residents in the area. With a staff of more than 250, the agency offers education, senior services, employment and training, and social services. 

In the Local Heroes award category, the foundation chose the Rev. Charles W. Dahm for his domestic violence program at St. Pius V Parish; Ray Graham Association President Cathy Ficker Terrill for her work with the disabled; volunteer worker Michael Howard at Fuller Park Community Development Corp.; educator Tonya Milkie, who founded the Noble Street Charter High School; and ex-policewoman Lisa Nigro, who created the Inspiration Corporation.

Local Heroes winners receive $5,000 to donate to the eligible non-profit of their choice.

Milke donated her $5,000 to Noble's after school program to aid students who are having difficulties. She and her husband originally founded the charter school in the Northwestern Settlement House nine years ago to provide another option for students; under the umbrella Noble Networks, Noble now has five charter schools.

In the Student Leaders category, the foundation selected Jessica Campos of Cary Grove Community High School; Richard Guss, a graduate of Harlan Community Academy; Edgar Padilla, a graduate of the Chicago Military Academy; Christine Godoy of Nicholas Senn High School; and Tanisha Humphrey of Whitney M. Young High School.  

Humphrey wants to give back to youngsters who may not have received the support she had.  She explained she did an eight-week internship at the Logan Square Boys’ & Girls’ Club, where the staff "were amazing" and where she learned how to communicate well with young people on the group and individual levels. 

Humphrey hopes to go to college on the east coast and eventually return as a public relations specialist to help the community organizations for which she has volunteered.

Now in its fourth year, the Neighborhood Excellence Initiative is part of the Bank of America Charitable Foundation’s ten-year goal to give $1.5 billion to nonprofit organizations that have demonstrated commitment to improving communities across the country. For more information about the Bank of America Corporate Philanthropy and Neighborhood Excellence Initiative, visit www.bankofamerica.com/foundation.