Black Philanthropy Month celebrated with grants to nonprofits

The Black Excellence Community Fund awarded three grants. Left to right: Lori Carter, BECF founding member; Sonya Whited, BECF founding member; Jermichael Mitchell, Minary’s Dream Alliance; Daniel Bowen, Symphony 21; Oscar Mejia Garcia, UMES MADE, Sharon Morris, BECF founding member.

The Black Excellence Community Fund, a Giving Circle of the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, celebrated Black Philanthropy Month by awarding grants to three Lower Shore nonprofits at an evening dinner event on August 23rd. The grants benefit Black-led local nonprofits which impact the quality of life for the local community.

Each organization received a $750 unrestricted grant for their work. Grantees were:

Minary’s Dream Alliance, Inc.  provides opportunities for mentoring, tutoring, vocational training, and college readiness. MDA offers families and youth a safe, welcoming environment where they feel comfortable, not intimidated, and accepted for who they are. 

UMES MADE empowers, inspires, and encourages the personal maturation and intellectual development of campus men through an array of activities and workshops aimed at promoting and providing access to achievement in the areas of social responsibility, academics, and professional development.

Symphony 21 works to inspire, educate, and transform the lives of young people through the power of music and creative arts. Since 2017, Symphony 21 has exposed youth in rural areas to modern approaches to music, technology and visual arts.

Additionally, Joe Morse and Mary Gladys Jones were honored in recognition of their leadership and achievements as philanthropists in the local community.

BECF was created in 2022 at the Community Foundation to preserve cultural awareness and pride by expanding the

benefits of education, health, and welfare in the Black Community, while teaching the values of philanthropy. Members work together through the power of collective philanthropy to create a positive impact in the community.

To get involved or learn more visit CFES.org/becf.