This month, Mai Soli Foundation kicked off its prototype launch in Chittagong, Bangladesh. To prepare for the prototype, the foundation’s team worked tirelessly refining curricula, establishing connections with local schools, and coordinating ground logistics. However, while the team built this incredible machine of a program, someone had to provide the power.

While there have been a number of supporters, there were very few, especially in the early stages, to see the potential this program would have and contribute financially. The most generous and optimistic of these supporters was Valley National Bank.

Valley National Bank, a regional bank headquartered in New Jersey, was the key donor responsible for making the prototype launch possible. Providing Mai Soli Foundation with its first grant, Valley saw the vision of what was possible, given the necessary resources. This grant went to nearly all of the operational expenses incurred for the prototype launch, from the girls’ course materials to our very first staff-level paid employee.

Their contribution was by no accident. During the summer of 2019, Mai Soli Foundation’s founder, Aria Mustary, served as an intern on their Corporate Social Responsibility team. On this team, Aria met Bernadette Mueller Executive Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility, Meghan McEntee, and Lynne Cohen; without whom none of this would have been possible.

Working with Mueller and McEntee, Aria made clear the impact that Mai Soli Foundation would and could have, given the funds and runway to execute. These two women worked within their department to write the grant that would go on to fund the prototype launch, entirely because they and all of Valley National Bank believed in the work being done. These women are examples of the bank’s commitment to women empowerment at both the local and international levels.

That being said, Mai Soli Foundation is thankful for Valley National Bank for writing its first grant, and believing in the mission and potential enough to help get them off the ground.

For more information about Valley National Bank, visit them at https://www.valley.com/