BMO Harris Bank has added a $750,000 donation to its support of United Way of Greater Milwaukee’s fight against infant mortality in Milwaukee.
The donation, announced on Monday, boosts the bank’s total giving to the cause to $1.5 million over six years.
The funds will help United Way have the bandwidth to continue investing in community-based organizations that support healthy birth outcomes.
Those investments factor into the nonprofit’s support of the City of Milwaukee’s goal to reduce Milwaukee’s African American infant mortality rate by 15 percent and the overall rate by 10 percent by 2017.
In 2012, BMO Harris Bank contributed $750,000 toward the launch of United Way’s Healthy Birth Outcomes Initiative. The donation, intended to be rolled out through 2015, supported the program’s expansion, the creation of a strategic developmental team, and Progressive Community Health Center’s Obstetrics Medical Home Program. Dollars have been divvied up among 11 programs at United Way partner agencies, including the Women’s Outpatient Center at Wheaton Franciscan – St. Joseph, Pathfinders – Rosalie Manor’s Healthy Families Milwaukee program, and Aurora Health Care’s Healthy Next Babies program.
“We are already seeing the impact from the first year of investments in these and other programs,” said Nicole Angresano, vice president of community impact at United Way of Greater Milwaukee. “Moms in BMO-funded healthy birth programs are carrying babies to term, delivering babies who are a healthy weight, providing safer sleep environments, and receiving family supports that will continue well past delivery. BMO’s commitment to this critical issue is leading to healthier families today and ultimately to a healthier community.”
The bank’s latest $750,000 grant will be awarded over the next three years.
“This collaboration has made a difference here for Milwaukee families,” said Brad Chapin, executive vice president, business banking, BMO Harris Bank. “There’s more work to be done, and we know this program will continue to do the work it takes to help keep our most vulnerable children healthy. It’s very meaningful to our bank and our teams that we’re part of helping to make that happen.”
