A Partnership with Purpose
Since 2020, Bank of America and The Floating Hospital have partnered to support and expand critical services for New York families in need. In addition to funding, the bank has been a key source of volunteers for our activities and events, including Candy Cane Lane.
What began with donations of personal protective equipment during the Covid pandemic, has led to a series of grants and a rewarding relationship. Every December, our Candy Cane Lane event offers the opportunity for homeless families to find new winter clothing, shoes, pajamas, and underwear, as well as toys, books, and gift cards to help celebrate the holidays. Bank of America’s enthusiastic group of volunteers joins us every year, giving joy and comfort to those who need it most.
A recent grant and where it’s going
In late 2024, we were thrilled to be named as one of two Bank of America New York City Neighborhood Builders, in recognition of our work to provide healthcare and other services to New Yorkers in need. As a Neighborhood Builder, we were awarded $200,000 in flexible funding.
Much of the grant has been directed to an update of our 2021 Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) study, examining the circumstances of homeless families in the city post-pandemic.
As stated in the previous study, SDOH are “non-medical factors that weight the odds for or against an individual’s ability to live a healthy life—which account for as much as 90 percent of a person’s health status.”
They include factors such as:
Quality and stability of housing
Physical and emotional security
Educational attainment and job security
Income and work history
Access to nutritious food
Social relationships
Access to transportation
The current study will be based on responses from some 750 patients. It builds on the previous effort, factoring in present conditions. Doctoral students assisted in conducting interviews, tabulations, and modeling.
Some of the remaining funds have been allocated to support a Spanish-speaking life skills case manager. Case managers address issues such as unemployment, trauma, and poverty as well as household management and accessing nutritious food sources.
Building leadership for long-term success
In 2025, President Sean Granahan and Health Education Director Dr. Meghan Miller participated in the Neighborhood Builders program’s leadership conferences and training, designed to provide tools and resources that smaller community-based nonprofit organizations may not be able to harness otherwise.
The conferences, which culminated in an in-person meeting at the bank’s headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, included sessions on themes such as partnerships, changes in tax law, cause marketing, and AI and cybersecurity trends.
In addition to the information offered in the sessions they attended last year, “it was helpful to be in a room with other people from around the United States who were in helping professions and doing good work,” Granahan noted.
Shared values — and real community need
Regarding Bank of America’s overall support, he said, “They simply look for a need, and then step in to help fill that need. Through volunteering with us, they saw in our patients a community that truly needs help.” They have been regular supporters of our direct service programs ever since.
Granahan looks forward to a continued partnership, “They have a unique appreciation for direct service providers and the concept of traditional charitable help—everything from basic needs through health education and life skills. That is all part of The Floating Hospital mission and what we've been doing for 160 years.”