Twenty years ago, the city parks in the Iron Triangle neighborhood of Richmond, California, were uninviting and scarcely used. Today, those parks are getting local residents outside to meet their neighbors, play and soak up the beauty of green space, thanks to the nonprofit Pogo Park organization.

Pogo Park is one of 400 nonprofits that recently received a Community Possible grant from the U.S. Bank Foundation. Launched 10 years ago to bring together philanthropy and employee volunteerism, the U.S. Bank Community Possible program supports organizations across the country creating opportunities for economic development in their communities. In its first round of grants this year, the U.S. Bank Foundation distributed more than $14 million.

Starting as a grassroots effort, led by Executive Director Toody Maher, Pogo Park is helping transform parks in the Iron Triangle into vibrant places for kids and families to enjoy sports, art, nature classes, picnics and more. At the same time, the organization provides workforce development opportunities for the people who build and maintain the parks. The support from the U.S. Bank Foundation will help Pogo Park expand its programming and continue enhancing the parks, such as with a new community center expected to open later this year.

“Any funding we get we want to pump into the community to hire and train and empower residents,” Maher said. “I’m thankful for U.S. Bank for really getting so deeply the kind of work that we’re doing in Richmond and being such a supporter.”

Pogo Park’s redevelopment efforts have made a dramatic impact on the community. A University of California-Berkeley study found that the initiative “contributed to significant reductions in self-reported fear of violence and improvements in community social connections, trust and overall stress for those living in the parks’ Iron Triangle neighborhood.” Two years after the completion of the first park renovation, neighborhood life expectancy had increased by five years, the number of gun homicides decreased by more than 30%, and nearly 60% of residents rated their health as good or excellent.

“What’s special about Pogo Park is that it’s built by and for the community. Residents help design and build the spaces, and many members of the Pogo Park team grew up in the neighborhood,” said Leena Paxinos, U.S. Bank community affairs manager for the San Francisco Bay Area. “It’s Community Possible in action—illustrating how community‑driven solutions can deliver tangible outcomes, from safe spaces for youth to stronger, healthier and more connected neighborhoods.”

The U.S. Bank Foundation will continue to provide grants throughout 2026. Last year, U.S. Bank donated $111.7 million in total corporate contributions and U.S. Bank Foundation giving.

The U.S. Bank Foundation is a tax-exempt private foundation described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Foundation is funded primarily through contributions from U.S. Bancorp’s affiliates and subsidiaries. The Foundation’s mission is to close the gaps between people and possibility in the areas of work, home, and play.