Hartford Foundation Announces Founding Members of “Black Giving Circle Fund”

In June 2015, the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving announced the creation of a new giving circle, “Black Giving Circle Fund,” to support the needs of Greater Hartford’s Black community. This new fund was the result of a year-long process of meeting with members of the community who shared an interest in the topic of Black philanthropy. There are 70 founding members representing the diversity within our region. Within its first six months of existence, the giving circle was able to exceed its first year fundraising goal.

“From its genesis, we have worked on this effort together with the community, creating a giving circle that will be able to respond to the needs in the Black community in our region,” said Linda J. Kelly, president of the Hartford Foundation. “The response was immediate and overwhelmingly positive with more than 65 people joining to become founding members of the Black Giving Circle Fund. The membership’s commitment will help to support positive and meaningful changes for Greater Hartford’s Black community for generations to come.”

The mission of Black Giving Circle Fund is “to create sustainable change in the Black community by leveraging the philanthropic efforts of donors and celebrating Black philanthropy.” Donations from members (at least $365 annually per membership) are pooled together in a dedicated endowed fund at the Hartford Foundation. Members of the fund will examine issues facing the Black community in Greater Hartford and, collectively, recommend grants to nonprofit organizations that work to address needs in the Black community.

Here is the list of the founding members of the Black Giving Circle Fund.

Mr. Tokunbo and Mrs. Deanna Akinbajo
Mr. Edwin Anderson
Mr. June Archer
Ms. Cheeneah M. Armstrong
Mr. Edward and Mrs. Doris Arrington
Ms. Francine Austin
Mr. Floyd Bagwell Jr.
Mr. Charles R. Barfield
Dr. Stanley Battle and Mrs. Judy Rozie-Battle
Mr. Dennis and Mrs. Monica Bisgaard
Mrs. Francesca Borges Gordon
Ms. Bithiah Carter
Ms. Leslie C. Clark
Mr. Craig Johnson and Mrs. Britt-Marie Cole-Johnson
Mr. Roy Collins
Ms. Andrea Comer
Ms. Veronica DeLandro
Ms. Brenda DelGado
Drs. Booker and Elena DeVaughn
Ms. Teresa A. Early Burr
Dr. Tekisha Everette
Ms. Sylvia Gafford-Alexander
Ms. Jaleith Z. Gary
Mr. Derrick Gibbs
Mr. Jerold and Mrs. Linda Gooden
Mr. Gregory Grant
Dr. Constance Belton Green
Ms. Sonja Hall
Mr. James Burney and Mrs. Carolyn Harris-Burney
Dr. Pamela Henderson
Mr. Howard K. Hill
Ms. Jennyfer A. Holmes
Mr. Robert and Mrs. Teresa Ike
Mr. Dwayne Jackson
Ms. Carol Jackson-Lawhorn
Mr. Ron and Mrs. Clinesha Johnson
Mr. William T. Johnson
Dr. Merwood Jones and Mrs. Bonita Jones
Mr. Harvey Kelly and Mrs. Sylvia Kelly
Ms. Linda J. Kelly
Mr. Edward and Mrs. Lois Lewis
Ms. Lorna Little
Ms. Sibongile Magubane
Mr. Frederick and Mrs. Ginelle McPherson
Mrs. June M. Miller Rosenblatt
Ms. Joelle A. Murchison
Drs. Kolawole and Trudy Olofinboba
Mr. Rodney O. Powell
Mr. James and Mrs. JoAnn Price
Mrs. Claire Pryor
Ms. Esther Pryor
Mr. Lewis and Mrs. Amy Robinson
Ms. Deborah Rothstein
Ms. Patricia Sasser
Mrs. Anita Ford Saunders
Mr. Edwin and Mrs. Pat Shirley
Ms. Sara A. Sneed
Dr. Marie M. Spivey
Mr. Darryl E. Thames
Ms. Carolyn M. Thomas
Mr. Fred and Mrs. Wyrot Ward
Ms. Jeanette Weldon
Mrs. Vanessa Williams
Ms. Joyce C. Willis
Mrs. Darlene Wolliston
Mr. Andrew and Mrs. Kathleen Worthington
Ms. Patricia J. Wrice
Ms. Elease E. Wright
Mr. Lawrence Young

To become a member or make a donation to the Black Giving Circle Fund, donations by check should be made out to HFPG, Inc., with the memo line indicating Black Giving Circle Fund. Or, you can go directly to our website at hfpg.org/donate to pay via credit card. For more information, or to join the Black Giving Circle Fund, visit hfpg.org/blackgivingcircle or call Wanda Y. Correa at 860-548-1888.

The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving is the community foundation for Hartford and 28 surrounding communities. In 2015, the Foundation celebrated 90 years of grantmaking in the Greater Hartford region, made possible by gifts from thousands of generous individuals, families and organizations. It has awarded grants of more than $650 million since its founding in 1925. For more information about the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, visit hfpg.org or call 860-548-1888.