Viviana Altamirano’s past and present met face to face at our October Power Up for Success (PUFS). New to the Working Wardrobes team, this was the Development Manager’s first PUFS at Camp Pendleton. While she expected the immersive day of preparing Servicemembers for their transition into civilian life, she hadn’t anticipated how impactful it would be for the individual Marines and Sailors, or for her.
While greeting volunteers, she encountered Shari Battle, Senior VP and Corporate Social Responsibility Market Manager for Bank of America OC – a generous sponsor of our programs. It was an emotional reconnect as over a decade prior, Shari helped shape her professional trajectory through the Bank of America Student Leaders® program and now Viv’s lending her talents to Working Wardrobes – a Bank of America Neighborhood Builder!
Aligned with Working Wardrobes’ hand-up philosophy, and with a commitment to youth employment and economic mobility, is Bank of America’s highly-coveted Student Leaders® program. They annually connect more than 300 community-minded high school juniors and seniors from nearly 100 communities to employment, skills development, and service. Handpicked from thousands of applicants hailing from diverse backgrounds, these highly-motivated students gain practical work and life experience through paid summer internships with local nonprofits and participation in a national leadership summit. By Labor Day, participants have developed the practical communication skills and knowledge of the non-profit sector that a classroom could not provide.
Between commitment of support and preparing youth for the workforce, the nonprofit future looks brighter thanks to Bank of America. It’s that same initiative that sent our CEO, Bonni Pomush, and Director of Client Services, Bianca Herrera, through their development course just this month. “Attending Bank of America’s leadership development sessions as part of the Neighborhood Builders award provided a truly valuable opportunity to connect with and learn from exceptional leaders across the country,” said Bonni. “With a deepened perspective of what’s possible, it strengthened our commitment and ability to serve the community with excellence. I’m incredibly grateful for their investment in leadership and the lasting change it empowers.”
Bank of America invested in Viviana and in turn, Viviana invested in community. Please help us continue these cycles by supporting us this Giving Tuesday: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/WorkingWardrobes/GivingTuesday