Wells Fargo Foundation Awards Interfaith Neighbors Planning Grant
The $93k is a part of $1.3 million invested for the west side community's revitalization
Wells Fargo Housing Foundation officials attended Monday night’s free concert at Springwood Avenue Park to make a special announcement – Interfaith Neighbors is the 
recipient of a $93 thousand planning grant.
The funding brings the bank’s charitable organization’s financial commitment in the city up to $1.3 million since 2007, officials said.
“We’ve worked with Interfaith for the last 10 years,” said the Foundation’s Executive Director Denise McGregor Armbrister. “Our mission is to improve the lives of children and families living in lower wealth communities. We focus on the development of communities with residential driven plans and the implementation of those plans. By improving the place, hopefully over time this will lead to the improvement of the lives of the children and families.”
Armbrister said the collaborative community investment began when Interfaith Neighbors first embarked on a neighborhood revitalization plan. That plan included 60 initiatives, most of which have come to fruition.
“It’s time now to establish a new set of priorities,” she said.
The Philadelphia-based Wells Fargo Housing Foundation has invested more than $190 million in three states since 1993.
The Wells Fargo regional planning grant runs concurrent with the ongoing Choice Neighborhood Planning Grant, awarded to the City and the Asbury Park Housing Authority. Interfaith Neighbors [IFN] is among the participating partners.
Interfaith Neighbors is currently gathering input from residential by asking a weekly question about community conditions during the free Monday night concerts at Springwood Avenue Park. Those who participate have a chance to win a gift card to Kula Café, its on-the-job hospitality training program.
On Tuesday, its youth coloring and drawing contest kicks off. Applications are available at Kula Cafe, located at 1201 Springwood Avenue.
The nonprofit also will seek community input at the biweekly open mic night at Kula Cafe and during a series of community focus groups.
For more information about the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation, click here.
For more information about Interfaith Neighbors, click here.
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