Cleveland Foundation to host third biennial African-American Philanthropy Summit presented by Medical Mutual
Harvard University scholar Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. to give keynote presentation
RELEASE DATE: 3.28.2014
CLEVELAND– As one of the featured events during the Cleveland Foundation’s centennial year, the African American Philanthropy Committee of the Cleveland Foundation will host its third biennial African-American Philanthropy Summit and luncheon on Saturday, April 26, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Corporate College East in Warrensville Heights. The theme of this year’s Summit, “Inspiring 100 Acts of African-American Philanthropy,” will be a celebration of African-American philanthropists and a call to action for members of the community to join in this giving legacy. According to a 2012 report from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, nearly two-thirds of African-Americans donate, giving $11 billion each year.
The featured event of the Summit will be the lunchtime keynote presentation by Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Alphonse Fletcher University Professor and founding director of the Hutchins Center for African and American Research at Harvard University. The keynote will be an “armchair discussion,” moderated by Russ Mitchell, lead anchor of WKYC-TV 3.
Dr. Gates is the author of 16 books and 12 documentaries, including the recent PBS series, The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross. He is the recipient of 51 honorary degrees and has been named to Time’s “25 Most Influential Americans” list, the AARP’s “The Influentials: 50 over 50” and to Ebony’s “Power 100” list for 2013. He also serves as jury chair for the Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards presented by the Cleveland Foundation, the only national juried prize for books that confront racism and explore diversity.
The Summit will also include panel discussions showcasing real examples of everyday philanthropy through the perspectives of community leaders, families, small businesses, and nonprofits. Panels will also highlight and educate attendees on a variety of giving vehicles.
The African-American Philanthropy Committee was created as an advisory committee of the Cleveland Foundation in 1993 under the leadership of former Cleveland Foundation Executive Director Steven A. Minter. It has served as a national model in community engagement. The Summit was launched by the committee in 2010 as a signature event to educate and engage the African-American community on the various ways to give back to the community.
The event is open to the public, but tickets are required. Registration details are available at ClevelandFoundation.org/AAPC.
The Summit’s Presenting sponsor is Medical Mutual. Other sponsors include: Dominion, Cleveland Clinic, KeyBank, Alcoa, University Hospitals, “THE WORD” Church, Forest City Enterprises, Inc., RPM, Inc., Squire, Sanders and Dempsey, Horseshoe Casino-Cleveland, Visiting Angels Senior Home Care, Stratos Wealth Partners, MetroHealth, U.S. Bank, Parker Hannifin Corp., Thompson Hine LLP, Sherwin-Williams, E. F. Boyd Funeral Home and Crematory, Wilkerson & Associates, Co., LPA, Fairfax Place, Call and Post, RBS Citizen dba Charter One, Hoover Milstein, Antioch Baptist Church, Shinn Family Foundation, Turner Construction Company, Margaret W. Wong & Associates, Ulmer & Berne LLP, Fairfax Renaissance Development Corporation, United Black Fund of Greater Cleveland Inc., Women of Color Foundation, Bracy Lewis, Robert P. Madison International, Inc., Steven A. Minter, First Energy Foundation, and A Cultural Exchange.
Summit Schedule Highlights
8:30 – 9:15 a.m. – Presentation by Dr. R.A. Vernon, Senior Pastor, “THE WORD” Church
9:25 – 10:25 a.m. – Panel session 1 “What is Philanthropy?”
10:30 – 11:30 a.m. – Panel session 2 “Giving vehicles”
11:45 a.m. – 1 p.m. – Keynote discussion with Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
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The Cleveland Foundation
Established in 1914, the Cleveland Foundation is the world’s first community foundation and one of the largest today, with assets of $2.1 billion and 2013 grants of $89 million. For more information on the Cleveland Foundation, visit ClevelandFoundation.org/Purpose and follow us at Facebook.com/ClevelandFoundation or @CleveFoundation on Twitter.