Celebrating commitment, love of community during Black Philanthropy Month

This month, we celebrate Black Philanthropy Month, a worldwide, month-long celebration of Black giving, launched in August 2011 by Jackie Bouvier Copeland and the Pan-African Women’s Philanthropy Network, now called Reunity. Today, Black Philanthropy Month has grown to more than 19 million participants engaged across 60 countries. This year, the celebration of Black philanthropy culminates on Aug. 28, National Black Giving Day, when people are encouraged to give to Black-led charities and organizations that strive to improve the quality of life for the African-American community.

There is much to celebrate. Nearly two-thirds of Black households donate to organizations and causes, totaling $11 billion each year, according to a W.K. Kellogg Foundation report. That’s more donations than any other U.S. donor group. Rooted in a strong sense of accountability, commitment and love of community, Black giving has long been a part of American history. This strong heritage and culture of generosity dates back to mutual aid societies that were formed to assist the poor, unemployed, sick and widows with financial as well as moral support. These societies set high ethical standards for their members and are said to be the start of Black philanthropy.

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Source: The Capital Gazette written by Mary Spencer, president & CEO of the Community Foundations of Anne Arundel County