His example demonstrates that we can come together not only to preserve our history but to propel our communities. Our story on this monumental endeavor, “The $250 Million Mission to Preserve Black History,†offers a step-by-step guide for nonprofits large and small. So does the mission of the appropriately named The Against All Odds Foundation. In this month’s Wealth for Life feature, we share the story of Christine Carter, a Newark, New Jersey, native who took out a $90,000 home equity loan and gained roughly $2 million in government funding to pursue her mission of helping at-risk youth in her underprivileged neighborhood.
The two tales of philanthropy show that although one person can make a difference, there’s always strength in numbers. It’s what Susan Taylor Batten of the Association of Black Foundation Executives calls the “concept of shared fate,†making the point to donors that even though their causes may be directed to black communities, they have a ripple effect in making our nation better. Taylor Batten has been traversing the country trying to increase gifts from African Americans, especially athletes and entrepreneurs in the financial services industry.
That fact that all sectors of the black community can–and must–play a role in our collective progress is why we have included giving back as Wealth for Life Principle No. 10: I will strengthen my community through philanthropy. Once you’ve built wealth, we believe that in addition to passing it on to future generations, you must use it to preserve our institutions and uplift those in need. That thrust has always been a part of our tradition–and a way that all of us can make history.