As YPL Vice Chair and Assistant VP at Ameris Bank, Eric Jones has been instrumental in helping pave the way for our partner, Ameris Bank, to become trailblazers in the work that United Way of Greater Atlanta does to empower our children and families in Atlanta. This month marked a significant milestone for Ameris Bank as they hosted their inaugural Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) Summit. In conjunction with the summit, the United Way of Greater Atlanta was able to facilitate a heartwarming book project aimed at empowering children in our Northwest Library Learning Space by enhancing their personal libraries at home. This initiative was a testament to the power of collaboration and community support.
Over 100 books were generously donated, each inscribed with a personalized message and paired with a beautifully decorated bookmark. These thoughtful gifts are more than just books; they are tools that will inspire and empower the young minds in our community, helping them to dream big and achieve their full potential.
“The stakes are very high for our young learners, and it is incumbent upon us to provide the resources needed to allow them to flourish. Literacy is a common thread shared between UWGA and Ameris Bank, so it was very impactful to see our partnership in action during Ameris Bank’s recent Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Summit. I have the privilege co-leading our “The Place” Employee Resource Group, which focuses on BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) teammates and our allies. Leaders of our various Employee Resource Groups from across our 8-state footprint gathered in Atlanta, and we welcomed UWGA’s Ryan Jackson and Matthew Sutton to facilitate a book drive where we wrote positive affirmations in the books and designed bookmarks. We collected over 100 books which will be provided to one of the local learning spaces. It’s incredibly fulfilling to see the fruits of this partnership, because it is a constant reminder of why I continue to serve on the Young Professional Leaders Board. Children in our communities deserve a fighting chance to rise above the many adversities they face, and with partnerships among organizations like United Way of Greater Atlanta and Ameris Bank, prosperity and improved outcomes becomes less of a dream and more of a reality.”
-Eric Jones, Ameris Bank
YPL Vice Chair
