Neighbors Link Stamford Receives Neighborhood Builders Grant

Neighbors Link Stamford has been named the recipient of the Bank of America 2015 Neighborhood Builder® grant.

The Stamford-based non-profit was recognized for its work in providing immigrant residents with a range of services that educate, empower and employ them in their new community with a $200,000 grant of flexible funding. The grant will be used to help increase the organization’s operational capacity and impact in the Stamford community.

Executive Director Catalina Horak accepted the award before a crowd of close to 200 people celebrating nonprofit impact in southern Connecticut at a ceremony held at the Palace Theatre in Stamford.

“I am overwhelmed by gratitude and emotion. This award validates the importance of our mission,” Horak said. “ It recognizes that in order to thrive, a community where 37% of the population is foreign born, and where 40% of the children in public schools speak a language different than English at home, needs to address the unique barriers that immigrants face. (The) award recognizes our history as a country of immigrants and embraces it.”

William Tommins, President-Southern CT of Bank of America presented the award. He said that Neighbors Link Stamford is an example of “strong, innovative, and imaginative leadership that has had a lasting impact in a short period of time to the underserved in our community.”

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Mayor David Martin said at the ceremony, “This organization, more than any other, makes the American Dream real. This organization puts out the welcome mat and makes it real.”

Established in 2011 to serve the unmet needs of the local immigrant community, Neighbors Link Stamford operates its community resource center in the city’s Waterside neighborhood. NLS’s purpose is to strengthen the whole community by actively enhancing the healthy integration of immigrants in Stamford where immigrants comprise 37 percent of the city’s total population. NLS has reached more than 5,500 Stamford-area immigrants.

Contributed photo. From left, Catalina Horak, Executive Director, Neighbors Link Stamford, Carol J. Heller, Southern CT Market Manager, Enterprise Business & Community Engagement, Bank of America; William R. Tommins, President - Southern CT, Bank of America.