Wells Fargo gives $250,000 to new Unite Charlotte fund in response to unrest

Wells Fargo said Thursday night that the bank will give $250,000 to support a new community fund called Unite Charlotte, established in response to unrest in Charlotte.

The fund will be established at the United Way of Central Carolinas and will support programs and organizations focused on community healing and creating opportunities, including the work of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Opportunity Task Force.

That task force, started two years ago, has been examining barriers to upward mobility and job opportunities.

“We want to take what is a tragic situation and use this opportunity to have a different kind of dialogue, relying on what we’ve learned about institutional racism so that we can bring about true systemic change for our community,” said Dr. Ophelia Garmon-Brown, co-chair of the Opportunity Task Force, in a statement.

“Wells Fargo is committed to being part of the solution in responding to issues Charlotte is facing,” said Kendall Alley, Wells Fargo’s Charlotte regional president for Charlotte. “We want to join the United Way and show our support for Foundation For The Carolinas and the Opportunity Task Force during this challenging time.”

The fund will be administered through a partnership between Foundation For The Carolinas and United Way. It will have an advisory committee that will include leaders from the faith, education, and business communities.

Wells Fargo is based in San Francisco but has its biggest employee base in Charlotte.

This story was originally published September 22, 2016 at 11:53 PM with the headline "Wells Fargo gives $250,000 to new Unite Charlotte fund in response to unrest."