Community involvement is a top priority for Bank of America, said Greater Washington, D.C., Market President Jeff Wood, and acting as a sponsor for the 2018 James L. Eichberg Lifetime Achievement Award is just one way he and others are giving back.
Wood will present the award to his Merrill Lynch colleague Neil Kishter at the 31st annual Leukemia Ball on March 10 at Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The ball is a fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, which is dedicated to research, advocacy and patient support.
Kishter is a wealth management adviser whose late wife’s battle with leukemia led him to personally donate millions of dollars to local hospitals and medical centers. He is the founder and leader of the Kishter Group, within the Private Banking and Investment Group at Merrill Lynch. He and his current wife, Emily, are committed to supporting those in need throughout metropolitan D.C.
“I cannot say enough about Neil’s passion to help others,” Wood said. “His personal commitment in time, talent and treasure to philanthropic causes, specifically LLS, represents the best of Bank of America, Merrill Lynch and U.S. Trust. He has a helping heart, which I believe is core to all of the personal and professional success that he has enjoyed, and explains why his clients rave about his service. He has had a true and lasting impact on patients, caregivers and families in our community, and it is an honor to recognize his legacy of compassion toward others.”
Wood oversees 2,600 teammates in the Greater Washington, D.C., region, where the company has 150 financial centers, more than 500 ATMs and a dozen wealth management offices. Wood helps to ensure alignment and collaboration among the multiple business lines.
“I also am privileged to help coordinate our many philanthropic efforts throughout the region,” he said. “We believe it is important to help individuals and our communities to thrive economically. That’s why we support programs that help people on the path to economic mobility and that enhance the impact of local nonprofits.”
Wood said Bank of America supports many community development initiatives and assists with programs that address basic needs such as hunger, housing, workforce development and a number of other issues.
“Our Greater Washington, D.C., teammates volunteer almost 70,000 hours a year, and since 2012 have contributed nearly $6 million to local nonprofits and community needs, with their gifts matched by the Bank of America Charitable Foundation,” Wood said. “In addition, our foundation has contributed about $28 million since 2012 to the local community.”
The Leukemia Ball begins with a reception and silent auction followed by dinner, dancing, entertainment and a raffle for a Mercedez-Benz.
Allison Starling of ABC7/WJLA-TV and Peter Alexander of NBC News will emcee.
The entertainment lineup is twofold.
Grammy-nominated comedian Jeff Foxworthy, a best-selling author and radio host known for such stand-up routines as “You Might Be a Redneck If …” and “Games Rednecks Play,” will provide laughs with a Southern twist.
Phil Vasser, a chart-topping songwriter and artist, will provide musical entertainment. Vasser was the writer behind Alan Jackson’s “Right on the Money,” Collin Raye’s “Little Red Rodeo” and Tim McGraw’s “My Next Thirty Years.” The Lynchburg, Virginia, native went on to record his own chart-topping hits, including “Just Another Day in Paradise” and “In a Real Love.”