The Ujima Legacy Fund, a new giving circle created by and for African-American men, has chosen Partnership for the Future for its inaugural grant of $20,000.
The grant will help motivated students with limited resources transition to their top-choice colleges and to the workplace. Partnership for the Future provides local high school students with college prep courses, personal development workshops, one-on-one counseling and savings incentives.
“We are truly honored,” said Charleita Richardson, president and CEO of Partnership for the Future. “Being recognized by the Ujima Legacy Fund will show our youth that the community cares about their success.”
Earlier this year, community leaders Robert Dortch, Reggie Gordon and Damon Jiggetts created the Ujima Legacy Fund as a way for friends, family members and colleagues to get involved in the Richmond community.
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Members donated $1,100 each to join Ujima’s inaugural effort. Each year members will pool their charitable dollars to support one organization that empowers youth through education-related initiatives, with a particular emphasis on underserved youth.
“Partnership for the Future is a fitting reflection of Ujima’s goals,” Gordon said. “We considered many strong applications, but in the end, we were compelled by their track record of success.”
Ujima is the third giving circle to partner with The Community Foundation Serving Richmond and Central Virginia. It follows the model of Impact 100 Richmond for women and the Richmond Giving Circle for young professionals in their 20s, 30s and 40s. The Community Foundation provides grantmaking expertise and administrative support for the giving circles, allowing members to grow their circles and identify the best nonprofits that fit their funding criteria.
While celebrating a successful first year, Ujima’s vision is to continue to grow and broaden its impact on the community.
“Many of the men in Ujima are unsung heroes who come from all walks of life and work tirelessly to contribute to making Richmond a better place,” Dortch said.
“This inaugural grant is just the beginning, and we hope that others will join us in this effort to support the education of young people,” Jiggetts added.
Bluegrass Ball funds help fight homelessness
The Bluegrass Ball at St. Joseph’s Villa has raised $50,000 for Flagler Housing & Homeless Services.
The Flagler program will serve nearly 300 families this year — approximately 800 individuals — with services that include rapid re-housing, homelessness prevention, support for families of veterans, mental health support resources, and hands-on job training.
Since 1989, Flagler has helped more than 1,700 homeless families transition out of homelessness and maintain permanent housing.
Page Auto Group was the signature sponsor of the Bluegrass Ball on May 18 and Monday’s Innsbrook Classic Golf Tournament, which will also benefit St. Joseph’s Villa.
Fork Union academy receives $30,000
Richmond-based Cavalier Union Investments has donated $30,000 to Fork Union Military Academy.
“Fork Union Military Academy is fortunate that Cavalier Union Investments supports our mission to educate, develop and inspire young men in a college preparatory, Christian, military environment,” said J. Scott Burhoe, president, a retired Coast Guard rear admiral.
$250K to assist American Revolution Museum
The Hampton Roads Community Foundation has awarded $250,000 to the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, which by late 2016 will replace the Yorktown Victory Center.
The grant will help secure a challenge grant from The Mary Morton Parsons Foundation, which will match 50 percent of up to $500,000 in gifts made through November.
The Yorktown Victory Center is operated by the state’s Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation.
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