Give Today
Support this cause today by contributing to Our African American Heritage Fund. You will have the opportunity to choose an endowed gift or non-endowed. Both ways of giving will help now and in the future. Click here to give today.
Our African American Heritage Fund
Together we will impact the future.
Our African American Heritage Fund was created in 2006 in response to a community desire to create a philanthropic partnership between the African American community in Kent County and Grand Rapids Community Foundation. It was led by community leaders including but not limited to Shirley Daniels, Bev Drake, Margaret Sellers Walker. With a match from the Community Foundation of $10,000 the fund was built. This is an endowed Field of Interest Fund with a current focus of providing education and job opportunities for African American youth.
Support Us
Support this cause today through a variety of means. Choose to give your time, talents and treasure to support this important work.
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Juneteenth to Juneteenth Campaign
This year our African American Heritage Fund launched a special campaign to increase capacity for grantmaking in our community. Please join us to help raise $100,000. Click here to support this fundraiser.
Recent Grants
Recipient
Amount
Date
Purpose
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Better Wiser Stronger
$1,500
May. 2020
Supporting the Confident Reading Program, to activate and encourage learning through the summer by reducing anxieties of feeling behind academically.
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Camp Newaygo
$1,500
May. 2020
To empower Grand Rapids students to be outdoor leaders, increasing their resiliency, confidence, and college readiness through 21st century skills.
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Ebony Road Players
$1,500
May. 2020
Supporting Story2Stage, a theatre intensive program that opens the floor for discussion about personal experiences.
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Edge Urban Community Development
$1,000
May. 2020
Supporting the Summer Youth Initiative, a day program working to prevent loss of learning for elementary age children in the Roosevelt Park neighborhood.
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Girls Growing II Women
$1,000
May. 2020
To introduce and stimulate virtual learning through the summer.
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Grand Rapids Urban League
$1,500
May. 2020
Supporting Project STEMULATE, which provides middle and high school girls of color with opportunities to learn about careers in STEM.
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Helping Important People Succeed
$1,500
May. 2020
Supporting Educational Virtual Reality Summer Camp.
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Messiah Baptist Church
$1,200
May. 2020
In support of a 6-week program designed to help students prepare for the SAT.
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New City Neighbors
$1,320
May. 2020
To engage African American youth in six summertime online farm-to-table classes focused on food sovereignty and the historical role of African Americans in agriculture.
Our African American Heritage Fund Donors
As of February 12, 2019
African-American Heritage Fund Donors since fund establishment date of March 2006 through February 12, 2019
- Anonymous (4)
- Brandy Arnold
- Ms. Christina Arnold
- Mr. and Mrs. John Aves
- Maurice A. and Connie Barnes
- Baxter Community Center
- Ms. Nancy Beard*
- Dr. Rhae-Ann Booker and Mr. Michael Booker
- Wayman and Dinah Britt
- Tamber Bustance
- Bobbie Butler
- John* and Marie Canepa
- Susan J. Carl*
- Ms. Veneese V. Chandler
- Margarita and Jeffrie Chappell
- Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Cheadle
- Mr. and Mrs. Richard Clanton
- Brian Cloyd and Agnes Kempker-Cloyd
- Shannon M. Cohen
- Ms. Minnie Cole*
- Committee to Retain Elias Lumpkins
- Community Choice Michigan
- Ann M. and Robert P. Cooper
- Huey G. and Mary Copeland
- Rev. Chico Daniels
- Joseph Daniels M.D* and Shirley K. Daniels*
- Mr. and Mrs. Edgar L. Davis
- Dr. and Mrs. Gerald Dawkins
- Mr. and Mrs. Stephen B. Deem
- Paul and Celeste Doyle
- Beverly Drake
- Barbara and Ronald Feenstra
- Ms. Lynne Ferrell-Robinson and Mr. David Robinson
- Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Frazier
- Frey Foundation
- Enid Gaddis
- Brent and Ronda Geers
- Mr. Aaron Gill
- Grand Rapids Community Foundation
- Grand Rapids Red Hat Sistas, Red Hat Society
- Dr. and Mrs. George Grant Jr.
- Mr. and Mrs. Phillip X. Greene
- Mr. and Mrs. James P. Hackett Sr.
- Dr. Lynda Haith
- Ms. Maggie Hankins
- Mr. Ralph Hauenstein*
- Mr. and Mrs. Steven R. Heacock
- George and Susan Heartwell
- Dirk and June Hoffius
- Preston and Sylvia Hopson
- Sonya Hughes and Marianne Butcher
- Robert Hurd and Diane McMillan
- Win and Kyle Irwin
- Carlton and Wendy Jackson
- Ellen M. James
- Ken and Tamasha James
- Mrs. L. Helen Johnson
- Ms. Louise J. Johnson*
- Mr. Michael B. Johnson, Sr.
- Mr. and Mrs. Russell E. Johnson
- Courtney P. Jones and Ora M. Jones
- Cynthia Jones
- Joe and Jessie Jones
- Mr. Fred P. Keller
- Ruth and Carl Kelly
- Kurt and Randy Kimball
- Anthony King and Lisa Oliver-King
- Roberta F. King and Mike J. Miesch
- Ms. Birgit Klohs
- Paul Kutsche*
- Ms. Nakia Kyler
- Ms. Ollie Lacy
- Marilyn Lankfer and Jeff Schad
- Ryann and Ashley Lee
- Ms. Darlene Lee
- Rev. and Mrs. Dallas Lenear
- Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Likely
- Rev. and Mrs. Irvin Little
- Mr. and Mrs. Larry Love
- Ms. Dee Lucas
- Mr. and Mrs. Elias Lumpkins
- Tempy Mann
- Bill and India Manns
- Mrs. Mary Martin
- Ms. Eugenia Marve
- Bradford and Andola Mathis
- Dr. Ralph E. Mathis
- Mr. Mansfield W. Matthewson
- Ms. Linda A. McCarter
- McClain Properties
- Ms. Donnell Mersereau
- Messiah Missionary Baptist Church
- Michigan Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
- Mr. and Mrs. Patrick A. Miles
- Patrick A. Miles, Jr.
- Erica Millbrooks
- Bonnie K. Miller
- G. Michael and MaryAnn Minton
- Mr. and Mrs. Louis Montgomery
- Rev. Nathaniel and Mrs. Laura Moody
- Margaret Sellers Walker Morris
- Mr. and Mrs. James Moyer
- Khan and Liza Nedd
- New Hope Baptist Church
- Kishen Newton
- Ms. Debra Nixon
- Isaac V. Norris and Associates, P.C.
- Isaac V. and Lisa Rene' Norris
- Ms. Pam Olsen
- Ms. Lauri S. Parks
- Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Pearson
- John and Penny Pestle
- Gene Proctor*
- John and Ann Puckett
- Pyper Products Corporation
- Carole C. Redwine
- Jennice Richardson
- Jacob and Delores* Robinson
- Milt and Barbara Rohwer
- Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Rose
- Mr. and Mrs. Gerrit J. Ruiter
- Ms. Celia C. Said
- Dr. Elaine Schott
- Secchia Family Foundation
- Seyferth & Associates, Inc.
- Rev. and Mrs. Robert O. Shaver
- Joe and Clara Shelton
- Diana R. Sieger
- Dr. and Mrs. C. Eugene Sims
- Mr. and Mrs. Percell Singleton
- Rueben Smartt*
- Frank* and Deloris Smith
- Ms. Peggy Smith
- Ms. Shayon Smith
- Mr. and Mrs. Kirk Spencer
- Edward* and Leona* Spencer
- Dennis and Deborah Sturtevant
- Mr. and Mrs. Willie R. Suber
- Lon and Sandy Swartzentruber
- Jim and Pat Talen
- Ms. Bessie Ward*
- Ms. Sandra Ward
- Ms. Anita Watson-Phillips
- Dale and Ingrid* Weekley
- Ms. Gloria Weekley
- West Michigan Medical Society
- Mr. and Mrs. Willis Weymon
- Reneé Williams
- Francesca Wiseman
- Bob and Aleicia Woodrick
- Allen and Johngerlyn Young
- Marilyn and Garrett Zack
- Ms. Betty V. Zylstra and Rev. David P. Baak
*Deceased