Central Carolina Community Foundation, the Midlands’ local center for philanthropy, invites the community to join the annual Black Philanthropy Month (BPM) celebrations throughout August 2019. Black Philanthropy Month is a national, coordinated effort to celebrate African American and African-descent giving in all its forms. The Foundation will celebrate the month by sponsoring local events and promoting a giving day for black-led nonprofits and those supporting black individuals and communities. The Foundation will also share stories of impact and giving throughout the month on social media.
“We believe that the diversity of our communities is a fundamental strength of our region,” says JoAnn Turnquist, president and CEO of Central Carolina Community Foundation. “We are proud to celebrate the amazing work of our region’s diverse multicultural philanthropists.”
This year’s BPM theme, Let’s Make History, recognizes philanthropy givers hold power to craft community, mold minds, weave wisdom, and forge the future. Founded in 2011 by Dr. Jackie Copeland-Carson and Pan-African Women’s Philanthropy Network, the initiative encompasses self-organized events, community dialogue, and charitable giving across the nation. Community members can follow the national conversation via social media by following #BPM2019 and learn more about ways to celebrate at www.blackphilanthropymonth.com.
Members of the Midlands community can support BPM 2019 by attending events throughout the month hosted by local groups, like the Black Entrepreneur Survival Summit (B.E.S.S.) August 23. B.E.S.S. is hosted by COLA Gives, South Carolina’s first African American Giving Circle, and will help current and emerging entrepreneurs learn more about how to start a business, develop a viable business plan, manage legal requirements, identify funding sources, and apply creative marketing and networking techniques. Other events are being planned by The Talented Tenth SC, The Hive Community Circle, and Women Engaged. More details can be found at www.yourfoundation.org/bpm2019/.
The second Giving Black Day is scheduled for August 28. Led by the Young, Black, and Giving Back Institute in Washington, D.C., the giving day initiative will culminate Black Philanthropy Month. The initiative urges people to support black-led and black-benefiting organizations. Registered nonprofits within Central Carolina Community Foundation’s 11-county footprint that raise $250 or more on August 28 and meet the Foundation’s nonprofit eligibility requirements will be entered into a drawing for one of eight $250 prizes provided by the Foundation. Donors are encouraged to make financial contributions directly to organizations through www.givingblackday.org.
More information about Black Philanthropy Month, as well as a full list of BPM 2019 events, can be found at www.yourfoundation.org/bpm2019.
