Philadelphia, PA, January 14, 2021 — Reinvestment Fund today announced two nonprofits as the winners of its annual Community Champion Award: 215 People’s Alliance and Tenant Union Representative Network (TURN). Based in Philadelphia, both organizations have been very active in COVID response and are particularly aligned with Reinvestment Fund’s own efforts around food justice and reforms to reduce evictions.
“At a time when the coronavirus pandemic has upended lives in so many ways, 215 People’s Alliance and Tenant Union Representative Network have been extraordinary in their efforts to support families and communities,” said Amanda High, Reinvestment Fund’s Chief of Strategic Initiatives. “We are delighted to honor these organizations with this award and to shine a light on their outstanding work.”
Awardee 215 People’s Alliance is a multi-racial collaborative dedicated to fighting for equity and justice in Philadelphia – at the ballot box, and in the streets. The Alliance includes parents and neighbors, teachers and students, union members and block captains, cab drivers and cashiers working to unite a broad sector of Philadelphians to make meaningful change. The Alliance also runs the People’s Kitchen, which serves the community through its healthy food access, employment survival, and civic engagement initiatives.
TURN works to advance and defend the rights and interests of tenants and homeless people. TURN has been advocating for tenants and working to reduce unnecessary and unjust evictions for two decades. TURN attorneys conduct eviction defense in court, but the organization also promotes housing stability in other ways, including assistance with repairs in rental units and affirmative housing discrimination claims.
The Community Champion Award is a small grants program that recognizes nonprofit organizations that are aligned with Reinvestment Fund’s own mission. Awardees are selected by an appointed staff committee that makes its selection from a pool of organizations nominated by staff. The selection is approved by Reinvestment Fund’s Community Advisory Board. Reinvestment Fund also administers a matching program for employee donations designed to increase the impact of charitable contributions. In 2020, Reinvestment Fund matched employee contributions in support of 20 organizations.
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About Reinvestment Fund
Reinvestment Fund is a mission-driven financial institution committed to making communities work for all people. We bring financial and analytical tools to partnerships that work to ensure that everyone has access to essential opportunities: affordable places to live, access to nutritious food and health care, schools where their children can flourish, and strong, local businesses that support jobs. We use data to understand markets, communities, and impediments to opportunity—and how investment and policy decisions can have the most powerful impact. Since our inception in 1985, Reinvestment Fund has provided over $2.4 billion in financing to strengthen neighborhoods, scale social enterprises, and build resilient communities. Learn more at reinvestment.com.