CLEVELAND - KeyBank (NYSE: KEY) Chairman and CEO Yank Heisler today presented a $10,000 Key Foundation grant to Hispanic Roundtable Chair Jose Feliciano in support of the roundtable's efforts to unite and empower the Hispanic community to play a larger more active role in the economic, educational, civic, political and social life of greater Cleveland.

Despite a 56-percent population increase over the last decade, greater Cleveland's 47,078 Hispanic residents (US Bureau of Census, 2000) remain largely isolated and underrepresented in the broader community due to language barriers and disparate cultural backgrounds among other factors contributing to the absence of an organized presence.

"It's time we took the guessing out of who we are in the community," says Feliciano, who also serves as Partner at Baker & Hostetler LLP. "We have a tremendous opportunity to help the region embrace the overwhelming influx of Hispanics and better understand how they enrich our urban landscape culturally and economically.

"In the process, it's imperative that the Hispanic community organize and institute a platform for developing a sound political and social agenda primarily focusing on education, economic development and empowerment. Ultimately, we must establish a stronger voice in the decisions that affect every aspect of Hispanic citizen's lives throughout the region."

Championing the transformation of a largely disenfranchised and subsequently disadvantaged Hispanic population into a cohesive force in greater Cleveland is the focus of the Hispanic Roundtable's mission and upcoming region-wide convention, La Convención Hispana 2004.

Slated for September 25 at Lincoln West High School near Cleveland's densely Hispanic-populated Ohio City neighborhood, the convention is expected to draw as many as 2,000 residents and area business and civic leaders. Together, they will set a vision for the Hispanic community by identifying and prioritizing community issues and working to rebuild social networks that support the lives of Hispanic residents across northern Ohio.

Key is actively supporting this and other Hispanic movements in major metropolitan areas throughout its 24 banking districts from Maine to Alaska. Nationwide, the company's civic leadership and philanthropic investments encourage economic self-sufficiency through financial education and workforce development according to Margot J. Copeland, executive vice president and chair of the Key Foundation.

In Cleveland, Key's efforts involve collaboration with the Hispanic Business Community Development Corporation; Spanish American Committee for a Better Community; El Barrio Social Services; and Esperanza, Inc. These organizations play a critical role through their distinct yet common interests and relationships with the Hispanic Roundtable.

"There's a profound difference between diverse societies and those that are both diverse and inclusive," says Copeland, who also serves as director of corporate diversity at KeyCorp. "When stripping away differences you'll always find greater depth and thus a larger foundation for success within diverse societies that embrace inclusion.

"The Hispanic Roundtable is ensuring inclusion by building an infrastructure as a basis for a more cohesive and engaging Hispanic community. Broad-reaching efforts like this elevate community spirit and open doors for people to realize their full potential. A deeper playing field will position our region to reach new heights in economic growth and vitality."

Hispanic Roundtable
Established in 2003, the Hispanic Roundtable is organized exclusively as a catalyst to empower the Hispanic community to become full partners in the economic and civic life of the greater Cleveland, Ohio area. The (501-C3) nonprofit organizes, conducts and supports charitable and educational programs to develop a well-educated fully participating Hispanic community. The Hispanic Roundtable encourages economic development activities that will benefit the Hispanic community; increases the involvement of the Hispanic community in civic affairs; combats discrimination and promotes diversity.

KeyCorp
Cleveland-based KeyCorp is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $84 billion. Key companies provide investment management, retail and commercial banking, consumer finance, and investment banking products and services to individuals and companies throughout the United States and, for certain businesses, internationally. The company's businesses deliver their products and services through KeyCenters and offices; a network of nearly 2,200 ATMs; telephone banking centers (1.800.KEY2YOU); and a Web site, Key.com,® that provides account access and financial products 24 hours a day. Contact Key Foundation Senior Program Officer Quentin McCorvey at 216.689.5505, or quentin_mccorvey@keybank.com, for more information about corporate grants.

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KeyBank

KeyBank

KeyCorp's roots trace back 190 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $176.2 billion at March 31, 2021. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,100 branches and more than 1,400 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank is Member FDIC. 

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