Hosted by Greg
Olsen, the pitch-style grant program provided funding,
yearlong support program for seven nonprofit finalists
CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 25,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Truist
Foundation awarded Centro Community Partners with the top
recognition at the second Inspire Awards, a pitch-style grant
program celebrating nonprofits from across the country that
showcased innovative technology solutions to support entrepreneurs
from undercapitalized communities.
Each finalist shared their vision in a three-minute pitch video
and an on-stage interview. The Inspire Awards event culminated with
the Truist Foundation team awarding Centro Community Partners with
a $250,000 grant to help bring its
technology solution to life. The organization also was named the
Audience Favorite by attendees of the event, earning a $75,000 grant. Centro Community Partners will use
the grant funding to provide an AI-generated journey through a
virtual hub of resources for low- to moderate-income
entrepreneurs.
"This award isn't just for us, it's for our entire community.
The impact will be far reaching and deep," said Arturo Noriega, founder and CEO of Centro
Community Partners. "The support from the Truist Foundation Inspire
Awards will enable us to make investments in engineering, marketing
and new team members who will help us provide innovative solutions
to the barriers that so many entrepreneurs face—in languages that
are familiar to them and with a cultural relevancy that is critical
to helping diverse small business owners thrive."
Truist Foundation collaborated with Solve, an initiative of the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(MIT), to help identify nonprofits with
technology-based ideas to help support, grow and develop small
businesses in underserved communities and create lasting
change.
"Embracing innovative technology is paramount for nonprofits
committed to strengthening small businesses. Centro Community
Partner's solution showcases the transformative potential of
technology to promote growth and development in the small business
ecosystem," said Lynette Bell,
president of Truist Foundation. "The Truist Foundation Inspire
Awards provide a platform to elevate nonprofits that are driven by
passion, attuned to the needs of small business owners and
pioneering innovative solutions that better the communities they
serve."
A second-place grant of $150,000
was awarded to Immigrants Rising, whose solution employs a
gamification learning hub to help remove barriers to traditional
employment for those who want to earn a sustainable income through
small business ownership. The runners-up each received a
$25,000 grant to help implement their
solutions.
The Inspire Awards ceremony was held on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at the Knight
Theater in Charlotte. The
event was hosted by American football sportscaster and former NFL
player Greg Olsen. Bell, Olsen and
Truist Financial Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bill Rogers announced the grant recipients.
To learn more about all seven finalists and how Truist
Foundation supports small businesses, visit
Truist.com/InspireAwards.
About Truist Foundation
Truist Foundation is committed to Truist Financial Corporation's
(NYSE: TFC) purpose to inspire and build better lives and
communities. The Foundation, an endowed private foundation
established in 2020 whose operating budget is independent of Truist
Financial Corporation, makes strategic investments in a wide
variety of nonprofit organizations centered around two focus areas:
building career pathways to economic mobility and strengthening
small businesses to ensure all communities have an equal
opportunity to thrive. Embodying these focus areas are the
Foundation's leading initiatives – the Inspire Awards and Where It
Starts. Learn more at Truist.com/Foundation.
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