Tag: philanthropy

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Community Foundation To Support Black Nonprofits in Give 8/28 Campaign

Photo Credit: Give828.org

The Community Foundation of Greater Memphis is celebrating Black Philanthropy Month by joining a nationwide campaign dedicated to supporting Black-led nonprofits in the city.

Give 8/28 Day encourages people to donate money to Black organizations in hopes of addressing the funding disparities they face. 

“Data shows significant disparities in financial support for Black-led nonprofits compared to their white-led counterparts,” the foundation said in a statement. “Funding equity begins with awareness and trust in the incredible Black-led, Black-serving organizations that are often uniquely positioned to listen and respond to those they serve.”

The Young, Black & Giving Back Institute said Black-led nonprofits have 24 percent smaller revenues compared to white-led organizations. They also have trouble attracting donors, achieving financial stability, and more.

August 28th also holds historical significance as multiple events in the Black diaspora occurred, such as the murder of Emmett Till, Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech, Barack Obama’s acceptance of the Democratic nomination for president of the United States, and more.

Aerial Ozuzu, director of community impact for the Community Foundation said Memphis has a rich history in philanthropy that she feels isn’t always recognized, and she hopes that by participating in the campaign, they can help amplify these organizations.

“When you think of the contributions of Black people I think we kind of limit how we uplift and talk about them,” Ozuzu said. “I think it also goes with how we see the word philanthropy and see the definition of philanthropy.”

Ozuzu said she thinks when people talk about philanthropy, an image of an “older white man with a lot of wealth” comes to mind. In reality, philanthropy is rooted in how people give. She added that Black people have given through their gifts for years whether it’s  through church, mutual aid, sororities and fraternities or other entities.

“These people don’t have a lot of resources, but they continue to show up every day, put boots on the ground, and do impactful work to transform the community,” Ozuzu said. “That’s philanthropy to me as well.”

Joining in Give 8/28 Day, Ozuzu said, serves as a way to notice the contributions of these nonprofits and support them fully. The Community Foundation will also be giving 10 $1,000 grants out as well.

Ozuzu added they will continue this work by amplifying the work of these organizations, and encourage the community to continuously give and support their work in hopes of increasing funding and dismantling systemic inequities.

“It’s my hope that this goes beyond August 28,” Ozuzu said.  “This is work that should be done every single day. That’s going to be the challenge for us here at the Community Foundation – to make sure we’re continuing this message outside of August.”

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News News Feature

Getting Children Interested in Philanthropy

Encourage charitable giving. (Photo: Katt Yukawa | Unsplash)

Cultivating the virtue of charitable giving in your children is an endeavor that’s never too early to start. The following tips can help you pass along your philanthropic values to the next generation. 

1. Lead by example. 

One of the best ways to instill values in your children is by modeling them. Talk to your children about the causes you support with both your money and time. Don’t worry about bragging; instead, be honest about what you do and the impact your actions have on the lives of others. It’s important that your children know how much you do for others. 

2. Involve your children in charitable decisions. 

Make giving to charity a family event by involving your children in charitable decisions. If you have a budget for charitable donations, give your kids a say in how to allocate a portion of the funds. Websites such as Charities Aid Foundation and Charity Navigator can help you discover a wide range of charitable organizations that align with your children’s passions, values, and interests. 

3. Volunteer together. 

Once they’re older, your children can volunteer with you at organizations such as food pantries, animal shelters, churches, hospitals, etc. Volunteering alongside your kids can be a great way to get them excited about helping others. However, even younger children have an opportunity to help others. Consider taking your child to help a neighbor with a small job, such as raking leaves or shoveling a driveway. You can also encourage young children to “pay it forward” by doing something nice for someone else each time someone does something nice for them. 

4. Help your children develop their own charitable goals. 

Talk with your children about their values and what’s important to them, then find opportunities for them to make an impact. Maybe your son loves reading and wants to share his joy by starting a book drive. Or perhaps your daughter has dreams of someday becoming a veterinarian and would like to walk dogs at your local shelter. Your kids will be more motivated to support causes that are important to them. 

5. Encourage your children to donate their own money. 

One effective way to teach children the importance of giving to others is by implementing a “three-bucket” strategy. Consider offering your kids an age-appropriate allowance and teaching them to separate it into three categories — save, spend, and give. Not only does this practice teach your children that a portion of their money should be used to help others when possible but it also helps them learn the importance of saving for the future. 

Gene Gard, CFA, CFP, CFT-I, is a Partner and Private Wealth Manager with Creative Planning. Creative Planning is one of the nation’s largest Registered Investment Advisory firms providing comprehensive wealth management services to ensure all elements of a client’s financial life are working together, including investments, taxes, estate planning, and risk management. For more information or to request a free, no-obligation consultation, visit CreativePlanning.com.

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Nike Announces Investments in Local Organizations

CREDIT: BRIDGES

Nike announced several large contributions it will be making to local organizations. The grants focus on programs that bolster education, economic empowerment, and social justice as part of its Black Community Commitment.
BRIDGES

BRIDGES’ Downtown headquarters.

A partnership with the National Urban League has seen Nike pledge grants to organizations in seven cities, to the tune of $2.75 million. Four institutions in Memphis were selected as recipients.

RISE Foundation ($75,000): The grant will go towards the RISE Foundation’s Save Up program, which is a matched  savings account that helps low-wage workers manage their income, improve credit, purchase assets, or attend post-secondary education. A portion of funding will also boost the Goal Card program, which focuses on helping public school students understand financial and life goals.

Memphis Urban League ($50,000): Funding from Nike will aim to increase capacity for the Memphis Urban League’s Save Our Sons program, which provides workforce and life skills training to juvenile detainees in the Juvenile Detention Center, the District Attorney’s office, or others that are participating in nonprofit re-entry programs.

BRIDGES ($75,000): Nike’s grant is geared mainly toward students in 8th-12th grades, and will help BRIDGES provide a platform for them to tackle social justice issues through community organizing, and promote diversity and equal rights.

Stax Music Academy ($50,000): Financial support will go towards expanding the academy’s capacity, allowing it to prepare more students for post-graduate success, whether that means pursuing a career in or outside the music industry. Every artist will learn the complexities and best ways to earn a living if they do decide to pursue music, in any capacity.

“We are thrilled to have the work of our Bridge Builders CHANGE program recognized with a Nike Black Community Commitment grant,” BRIDGES said in a statement. “This funding will support a diverse coalition of young leaders working hands-on to address racial inequality in schools, institutions and across our community. BRIDGES is grateful to Nike for investing in the future of youth-led social change and honored to stand beside our fellow Memphis grantees: Memphis Urban League, Stax Music Academy, and RISE.”

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Food & Drink Hungry Memphis

901 Community Fridges: Bringing Food to the Table for Those in Need

CREDIT: Samuel X. Cicci

There’s nothing worse than opening the fridge door and seeing empty shelves. And for those without reliable access to a grocery store, it’s an even bigger problem. But 901 Community Fridges, a new venture spearheaded by founder and community organizer LJ Abraham, is set to fight food insecurity in the Bluff City by providing all manner of nourishment to those in Memphis who need it most.

Samuel X. Cicci

901 Community Fridges founder LJ Abraham stands next to the first community fridge at First Congregational Church.

Just yesterday, Abraham and fellow team members Joey Scott and Laura Margeret were hard at work preparing their first community fridge in Memphis at First Congregational Church (1000 Cooper). The refrigerator, which was donated to the organization along with several others, is today set up for use on the Blythe Street side of the building.

“Yesterday, we had some amazing people come out, build the structure, set up the fridge, and decorate it,” Abraham says. “It was a really smooth process, and people are already welcome to come out as needed.”

The program is designed to be a wholly community-driven effort. “Anybody is free to come by and donate anything they’d like. And in return, any community member can come and take what they need. We’re hoping to bring in some folks from each neighborhood who can monitor the fridges, too. Clean it out as needed, make sure food isn’t expiring.”

As for donations, 901 Community Fridges will accept almost anything that Memphians are willing to contribute, whether it’s ingredients, prepared meals, or sundries. “People are always in need of something, so we’ll be happy to accept most donations. The only thing we’ll ask people to steer away from is raw meat, or food that’s close to its expiration.”

Samuel X. Cicci

Each fridge will sit under a newly constructed shelter and bear exterior designs.

Abraham initially came across the idea for a communal refrigerator when she saw the concept being demoed in Portland, Oregon. After some research, she found that multiple cities had tried the experiment, and all had been beneficial to their communities. “We based our model on NOLA Community Fridges,” she explains, “as they have a similar poverty level to us. We had conversations with them about what best practices would look like, and we learned this could be really beneficial to Memphis.”

First Congregational Church reached out to Abraham after she began floating the idea around town, and the two parties quickly agreed to use the church as the launch site. “It has worked out great,” says Abraham. “First Congo sometimes has leftover goods from their food giveaways, so if there’s ever a time where the community isn’t able to contribute much to the fridge, we can ensure it’s always stocked anyway.”

With one fridge officially launched, Abraham is eyeing Binghampton as the next location, but also wants to place fridges in Frayser, Raleigh, North Memphis, South Memphis, and Whitehaven. “Really, anywhere there’s a food desert. Memphis has a lot of those, and it’s important for people to have an option.”

Once set up, each fridge will be open 24/7. And once more are activated around town, 901 Community Fridges plans to create an interactive map so donors can find drop-off points. With some organizations already eager to find a good use for leftover food, the program should have plenty of stock.

For now, Abraham says they need more volunteers. “Both in terms of monitoring the fridges, and volunteering to be a host location.”

For more information, visit the Facebook page, or send an email to 901communityfridges@gmail.com.

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Food & Wine Food & Drink

Avenue Coffee Serving Coffee for a Cause

CREDIT: Justin Fox Burks

It all started with a college assignment in 2010. Freshmen at Mid-South Christian College were placed in groups and told to come up with an idea for an outreach in Memphis. Group number 10 envisioned a coffee shop where people could have open conversations and form lasting relationships while fighting for social justice locally and globally.

Thanks to help from friends and several local churches, the team’s philanthropy has found its roots at the corner of Echles Street and Douglass Avenue, a half-mile south of the University of Memphis.

Avenue Coffee opened to the public on April 25th, serving loose-leaf tea and locally roasted Reverb Coffee alongside freshly baked cookies, muffins, and cupcakes.

Justin Fox Burks

Jaron Weidner, and Rebecca Skaggs

The team that established and is running Avenue Coffee comprises five students from Mid-South — Rebecca Skaggs, Nicolas Griffin, Elizabeth Bliffen, Adiel Estrada, and Jordan Miller — and one Visible School alumnus, Jaron Weidner.

The coffee shop is a non-profit, and the team plans to focus on one social justice theme each month, donating money to a related charitable organization and raising awareness of the month’s cause with art and live music by local artists.

But they also hope to make a more personal impact in the community by encouraging college students and others to invest in each others’ lives through good, old-fashioned face time.

“We want to reach out to Memphis; we want to help create a better community; and we want to get involved in people’s lives and give them quality conversation,” Skaggs says. “We’re all Christians, and this isn’t some covert operation to get into people’s lives and make them convert. But we really just want to introduce them to Christ’s love, and we want to do that by forming lasting relationships and giving them a quality service.”

Avenue’s handmade drink menu includes: Reverb’s medium roast Costa Rican coffee blend, prepared pour-over style ($2/$2.50), espresso ($1), lattes ($3.25/$3.75), loose-leaf tea ($3), and tea lattes ($4). The strawberry milkshake latte ($4) is a perfect, not-too sweet blend of strawberry rooibos tea with steamed milk and vanilla flavoring.

Debbie’s Heavenly Morsels, an assortment of treats from local baker Debbie Stephens, are also baked and sold at Avenue Coffee, giving customers the chance to savor cookies, muffins, or cupcakes ($2 each) with their freshly brewed cup o’ Joe.

Each morning, Stephens bakes at least three different types of muffins, three kinds of cupcakes, and four varieties of cookies to be sold at Avenue. She uses organic ingredients when available.

She says some customer favorites are the lemon-poppy muffins, sour-cream coffee-cake muffins, oatmeal-raisin cookies, and heavenly morsels cookies, which feature oatmeal, chocolate chips, butterscotch, and toffee.

“We’ve been kind of experimenting every day, but there are some we’ll have every day,” Stephens says. “We have the heavenly morsels and peanut-butter Oreo cookies. Every now and then I’ll feature the pecan pie cookie. A new one I introduced yesterday was an apple-walnut-raisin muffin that was my great aunt’s recipe.”

Baking is in Stephens’ blood. “My great grandfather was a baker in Brooklyn,” Stephens says. “He came over from Russia, and my grandmother and all of her siblings used to work in that bakery, so I’ve gotten some recipes from her over the years. I’ve been baking since I was probably 8 years old.”

After retiring from FedEx last May, Stephens connected with the Avenue team through her church, East Win Christian Church.

“I had decided that I either wanted to open up a bakery or work in a bakery, and because this was mission-minded, it was the perfect fit for me,” Stephens says.

Stephens sells her goodies by the dozen, and she also accepts special orders for mini muffins, pies, cookie cakes, and decorated cakes.

Avenue has a typical coffee-shop vibe with tables, Wi-Fi, and plenty of outlets for people trying to be productive. But the split-level building also has couches in an alcove on the upper level for customers who want to hang out and chat.

When the team was discussing what to name the shop, team member Elizabeth Bliffen suggested the name Avenue Coffee.

“It works because we’re on an avenue [Douglass], and we want this to be an avenue into people’s lives and an avenue to find the truth of Jesus Christ,” Skaggs says.

They are looking for people willing to volunteer a few hours working at the shop. If interested, call the store or send an email to avenuecoffee@gmail.com.

Avenue Coffee is open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to midnight.