Wells Fargo says it invested $8.1M in Charlotte last year

Wells Fargo today said it increased philanthropic giving in Greater Charlotte to $8.1 million in 2012, up 1,520 percent from $500,000 in 2011.

The San Francisco-based bank said the Charlotte spending was part of $15.6 million it invested in communities across North Carolina in 2012.

In the Charlotte area in 2012, the bank said its giving included:

• $160,000 to create the Wells Fargo Sense and Science Garden in uptown;

• $250,000 to create the Veteran’s Employment Initiative, which provides tuition support and career-planning help to those returning from active military duty;

•  $2.5 million to ProjectLIFT, a program designed to increase the high school graduation rate         

• More than $750,000 to nonprofits to support community development programs and initiatives in affordable housing, financial literacy and work force development; and

• $500,000 to Grameen America to provides microloans to entrepreneurs in low-income communities.