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In This Issue
Message from the Founder
Highlights from our Ebony Magazine Feature Party
Member News & Grantee Updates
Giving Back: New Book Released on Traditions of Black Philanthropy
Upcoming Community Events
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The Black Benefactors

Fall 2011 Newsletter 

 


Happy Fall!

 

The past few months for me have been a time of celebration, reflection and renewal with The Black Benefactors, as we embark on our 5th year.

 

Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of attending the Community Investment Network's (CIN) 5th Leadership Summit on behalf of The Black Benefactors at St. Helena's Island in South Carolina.  CIN is a national nonprofit that inspires, connects and strengthens African Americans and communities of color to leverage their collective resources to create the change they wish to see.  The organization, led by executive director Chad Jones, provides technical assistance to its member giving circles to support their capacity.

 

During the summit we learned together by sharing our best practices, ate oysters and low country boil at the world famous Gullah Grub restaurant and enjoyed the beautiful scenery and historical legacy of the summit's location in Gullah country at the Penn Center.  The center once served as the first school for freed black slaves in the country and was a gathering place for Martin Luther King Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Council in the late 1950s.  Charles Lewis, CIN board chair shared in his welcome letter, "What an awesome parallel for us to be here over a half a century later, strategizing for a movement that is as important for our day and time as the Civil Rights Movement was then."  How amazing is that?

 

The camaraderie I felt from giving circle members was so inspirational;  I honestly can't describe in words the emotions I felt after attending the summit.  I met members from the Birmingham Change Fund from Birmingham, AL; New Generation of African American Philanthropists from Charlotte, NC; Circle of Joy from Atlanta; A Legacy of Tradition from Raleigh, NC and many more.  On the plane ride back to DC, so many thoughts were swirling in my head.  Surely yes, since 2007 we've had successes such as granting $9,000 to DC area nonprofits and our Ebony magazine feature, but the summit served as a pivotal point for me to renew and recharge my efforts with The Black Benefactors and to help support my fellow giving circles.  So in other words, this is just the beginning.  

 

CIN group photo

With spanish moss as a backdrop, attendees take a group photo at the 5th CIN Leadership Summit

Photo credit:  Sino Chum

 

In closing, as we approach the season of giving, please consider your year-end gift to The Black Benefactors.  Annual and corporate membership is now available, or a donation in any amount is greatly appreciated.  Your donation will support non profit organizations in the DC region that serve the African American community.  Please visit HERE for instructions to donate, or feel free to contact me at [email protected]. 

 

 Yours in Giving,

  

Tracey

 

Tracey Webb

Founder

The Black Benefactors

 

A Celebration of Giving:  Highlights from our Ebony Magazine Feature Party 

 

  

The Black Benefactors, August 2011

The Black Benefactors pose for a photo at the Ebony magazine feature party.

Photo credit:  V Terraunce Photography

 

On August 26, 2011, we hosted a reception to celebrate our feature in the August 2011 'Black Wealth' issue of Ebony magazine.  Held at the Dance Institute of Washington,  supporters attended from nonprofit, philanthropy, business and arts communities.  Among the organizations represented were the Association for Black Foundation Executives, Black Philanthropic Alliance, Community Investment Network, the DC NAACP,  DC Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation, Venture Philanthropy Partners and many more. 
 
The evening began with a welcome from Fabian Barnes, founder and artistic director of the Dance Institute of Washington and followed with a thought provoking spoken word performance by Nigel Greaves. 
 
Nigel Greaves
Nigel Greaves performs spoken word performance
JoAnn Williams, executive director of the African Continuum Theater Company, a 2010 grantee, shared how important it was for them to receive a grant from African American donors.
JoAnn Williams
JoAnn Williams shares remarks at our event.
           
We dined on hors doeuvre's from Whole Foods, mini cupcakes from Bake Sweet Love and wine from Cork Wine Bar while enjoying the musical sounds of DJ Michael Barclay.  The event was made possible by donations from the law office of Edward W. Neufville III, Giant Food Store and our members.  Photography was generously provided by V. Terraunce, and a special thanks to Keisha J. Reid who live tweeted during the event and highlighted our event on her blog HERE.
 
Below are additional photos from the event, and to view more, be sure to visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/blackbenefactors.
  
Members Tekisha Everette and Desy Osunsade
Members Tekisha Everette and Desy Osunsade

 

Guests
Guests networking at the event.
Guests
Keisha J. Reid with members Keight Tucker and Melissa Johnson
Guests
Guest with members Faith Bynoe and Jovette Gadson

  

Member News & Grantee Updates

 

Founding Member Thelma Jones Honored as White House Champion of Change & Capital One Bank Community Champion

 

Our very own Thelma Jones was honored this month as a White House Champion of Change for her work as a cancer advocate, certified breast health educator with the American Cancer Society and community navigator with the Smith Center for Healing and the Arts.   A four-year breast cancer survivor, Thelma writes in the White House blog:

 

"Almost from the inception of my diagnosis, I vowed to fight back and use my voice to increase funding for cancer research and to make it a national priority.  I have vowed to use my experience as a survivor as a beacon of hope and inspiration for others who have the disease or who have lost a loved one....Yes I have cancer, but cancer doesn't have me." Read Thelma's full blog post HERE.

 

 

Thelma Jones receives award
Thelma Jones receives Capital One Bank Community Champion award from Greg Bibb, COO of the Washington Mystics

 

On Sunday, August 28, 2011, Thelma was honored with the Capitol One Bank Community Champion award.  The award was presented during half-time at a Washington Mystics game at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC.  The award was created to honor individuals in the Washington, DC area who show an exemplary level of dedication to their community.  Congratulations on your well deserved honors Thelma!

 

 

Founding Member Edward Jones Celebrates Birthday by Supporting Local Organizations

 

Edward's party
Edward Jones (2nd from left) with Desy Osunsade, Black Philanthropic Alliance Director Jackie Lendsey & Tracey Webb at Edward's birthday party.

 

Member Edward Jones celebrated his big day on September 24th with a 'Party with a Twist' birthday bash at the Holiday Inn Capitol in DC.  In lieu of gifts, Edward asked his guests to donate to three local charities:  Us Helping Us/People into Living Inc., Seabury Resources for the Aging and The Black Benefactors.  Thanks to Edward, we received donations to our fund.  Happy Birthday Edward! 

 

First Generation College Bound Hosts Rountable with Congressman Steny Hoyer

 

First Generation College Bound
Staff and alumni of FGCB take a group photo with Congressman Steny Hoyer

On September 26, 2011, staff and alumni of First Generation College Bound (FGCB) hosted a roundtable meeting with Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) in Laurel, Maryland to discuss their program, funding higher education and the Pell Grant program.  Alumni passionately shared with Rep. Hoyer how FGCB changed their lives and the importance of receiving pell grants to help finance their college education.  A Baltimore Sun article provides highlights from the discussion HEREFGCB also hosted a 2 Mile Walk/5K fundraiser earlier this month.  Visit their website at http://www.fgcb.org.

 

African Continuum Theatre Set to Host 20th Anniversary Celebration

 

Tickets will go on sale soon!

 

When:  Wednesday, November 16, 2011 from 7-9 pm

Where:  True Reformer's Building, Lankford Auditorium, 1200 U Street, NW, DC

 

Other ways to support:  Purchase an advertisement in the printed program, donate items for the silent auction and tell your friends!  For information on tickets, auction item donation or advertisement placement, please contact [email protected] or call 202-529-5763.  Visit their website at www.africancontinuumtheatre.com.

 

 

  

Giving Back:  New Book Released on Traditions of Black Philanthropy

 

Now available in bookstores nationwide, the new 392-page hardcover book Giving Back:  A Tribute to Generations of African American Philanthropists reframes philanthropy with a vast collection of photography and stories.  In Giving Back, author Valaida Fullwood and photographer Charles W. Thomas Jr. profile black donors and reveal centuries-old philanthropic customs that endure throughout the African diaspora.

 

Giving Back book cover
Book jacket cover for 'Giving Back'

 

The book is the centerpiece of the Giving Back Project, a civic engagement campaign led by the collective giving circle, New Generation of African American Philanthropists.  Read more HERE

 

Makes a great holiday gift! Available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, IndieBound and John F. Blair, Publisher.

 

If you're in the Charlotte, NC area, the New Generation of African American Philanthropists is hosting a book signing on October 27th from 5:30-7:30pm at The Light Factory.  Visit HERE for more information.

 

 

  

Upcoming Community Events 

 

Berrette Family Foundation Soft Launch & Fundraiser

 

Thursday, November 10, 2011

6-9 pm

Policy Restaurant and Lounge

1904 14th Street, NW DC, 2nd Floor Liberty Lounge

Suggested donation $20

For more information and to RSVP:  [email protected]

 

Black Student Fund 39th Annual School Fair

 

Sunday, November 20, 2011

2-5pm

Washington Convention Center

801 Mt. Vernon Place, NW, Washington DC

FREE (free seminars, all welcome)

 

Learn about private school options, pre-K to grade 12.  Representatives from over 50 day and boarding schools.  Will be accepting resumes for recruitment and retention of African American school leaders, teachers and administrators with the Black Student Fund.  For more information, visit www.blackstudentfund.org.