CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Foundation’s African American Philanthropy Committee presented its 7th African American Philanthropy Summit on Saturday, April 30. Held at Corporate College East in Warrensville Heights, the summit’s title was “Philanthropic Equity: Making An Impact”.
Participants reflected on how philanthropy can be inclusive, how equity impacts philanthropy at various levels and how philanthropy can help change lives for the better.
Kevin Clayton, vice president of Diversity, Inclusion & Engagement for the Cleveland Cavaliers, served as the morning keynote speaker.
And during the lunch hour, 3News anchor Russ Mitchell had a conversation with Michele Ghee, chief executive officer of EBONY and JET magazines.
The event’s purpose was to raise the visibility of African American philanthropy in Cleveland and honor local African American philanthropists who are making significant impact.
“It is important that people especially African Americans understand that we all are philanthropic,” said Montrie Rucker Adams, an AAPC member, during a We The People interview. “Often times we hear the word philanthropy and we think only people with great wealth are [philanthropic] but that’s not true,” she added.
The African American Philanthropy Committee was created in 1993 by the Cleveland Foundation’s then-Executive Director and President Steven A. Minter.