Northwest Area Foundation Recognized for Supporting Local Leadership in Black Communities
ST. PAUL, Minn. (April 6, 2011) - “African Americans have made significant gain in recent decades to overcome poverty. Many are leaders in government, business and the arts,” said Gary Cunningham, vice president of programs for the Northwest Area Foundation. “I am privileged to know men and women who want to pave the way for others to share in that prosperity. They come together to awaken hope, identify a vision for tomorrow, and then put this to action.”
Mr. Cunningham’s and the Foundation’s efforts to support African American leaders have earned the 2011 Institutional Award for Philanthropic Leadership from the Association of Black Foundation Executives (ABFE). This award recognizes the Foundation for its role in mobilizing the African American Leadership Forums, an initiative that convenes community leaders to address issues of poverty, access and opportunity.
“We commend Northwest Area Foundation for recognizing and building on the strengths of existing leadership in African American communities,” said Susan Taylor Batten, president and CEO of ABFE. “The Foundation has been instrumental in bringing together a diverse group of leaders to influence the root causes of inequalities that adversely impact Black communities.”
In response to a disproportionately high poverty rate among Blacks, the Foundation engaged African American leaders in a strategy to strengthen their collaboration and understanding. A series of forums in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn., Portland, Ore., Des Moines, Iowa and Seattle, Wash. have begun to galvanize partnerships to develop community-based solutions to promote social and economic well-being among African Americans.
“We are humbled and honored to receive this award,” said Kevin Walker, Foundation president and CEO. “Leaders in the African American community bring a wealth of experience, knowledge and creativity to society. Participants in these forums are finding that by coming together across the boundaries of their various professions, they can frame a broad agenda for change and begin to tear down obstacles to opportunity.”
The Foundation will accept this honor during the James A. Joseph Lecture and Awards Ceremony on Saturday, April 9, 2011 prior to the start of the Council on Foundations Annual Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
ABFE’s mission is to promote effective and responsive philanthropy in Black communities. Established in 1971, ABFE is the first of 38 affinity groups the Council on Foundations established. To learn more visit www.abfe.org
The Northwest Area Foundation is dedicated to supporting efforts by the people, organizations and communities in eight states to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable prosperity. The Great Northern Railway, founded by James J. Hill, served these states. Hill’s son, Louis W. Hill, established the Foundation in 1934. For more information, please visit www.nwaf.org
Susan Buckles, APR
Public Relations Specialist
Northwest Area Foundation
(651) 225-3865
sbuckles@nwaf.org
Twitter: www.twitter.com/susanbuckles
Sylvia Burgos Toftness
Communications Lead
Northwest Area Foundation
(651) 225-7704
sburgos@nwaf.org
