The 13^th Annual Community Fellowship Luncheon Recognizes Teri Williams for Leadership

BOSTON, MA – September 9, 2015 – On Friday September 4, 2015, The Boston Area Church League in partnership with the Boston Red Sox honored Teri Williams, President and COO of OneUnited Bank – the largest Black-owned bank in the nation with over $630 million in assets – with the 2015 Community Leadership Award at The 13^th Annual Community Fellowship Luncheon at the Hilton Boston Bay Hotel, Fenway Ballroom.

Teri Williams is the only woman honoree that has been recognized for her leadership in teaching financial literacy through various programs within OneUnited Bank’s retail branches in Massachusetts, Florida and California. Programs include: Smart Money Summer School that holds financial literacy workshops for adults in OneUnited Bank branches including Roxbury and Grove Hall, the OneUnited Mural Project – a public art works, youth development, community beautification program providing arts enrichment through STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) education, “Yes! In Our Backyard” – a 12-month community based initiative project that OneUnited Bank committed $1 million to help change the lives of residents living in OneUnited Bank’s Miami branch “backyard” community and help build long term, generational wealth through homeownership and the annual “I Got Bank” Financial Literacy Youth Essay Contest inspired by the book “I Got Bank! What My Grandad Taught Me about Money” written by Williams, where three youth win $1,000 savings accounts.  Ms. Williams continues to commit to broad-based community programs to empower others to prosper economically.

“I’m honored to have been recognized by the Boston Area Church League for my work, as I seek to support communities like the ones I grew up in,” said Williams. “Financial literacy and economic empowerment are so important today in minority and low-to-moderate income communities.”

The Community Fellowship Luncheon’s keynote speaker was Governor Charlie Baker of Massachusetts. The following honorees also received the award along with Williams:  Boston Police Commissioner William Evans, General Manager Hilton Boston Back Bay Dominique Marty and Chairman of the Boston Red Sox Thomas Werner.

MEDIA CONTACT: Suzan McDowell, Circle of One Marketing, [email protected] or 305-576-3790.

ABOUT ONEUNITED BANK
A Minority Depository Institution (MDI) and a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), has received the Bank Enterprise Award from the U.S. Department of Treasury for ten years due to its community development lending. Its mission is to be the premier bank serving urban communities by promoting financial literacy and offering affordable financial services.