The Howard County Foundation for Black
Educational and Cultural Achievement, Inc. is a community-based non-profit
organization which has served as a resource for the encouragement and financial
assistance to African-American youth in Howard County, Maryland for more than
three decades. The primary focus of this organization is to provide
scholarships to graduating, high school seniors in their pursuit of
post-secondary education and training. The outgrowth of a grassroots
effort by sixteen concerned African-American parents who met initially on
September 16, 1977 to contemplate ways in which to maximize the achievement
efforts of black students in the county, this organization has evolved to its
current status. These sixteen parents, along with two others who joined the
group shortly after its inception, operated under the name of Concerned Parents
for Educational Excellence (CPEE). They tackled the job of advocating for their
children forthright. Overcoming many obstacles, such as the lack of operating funds,
apathy, and differences of opinion as to their direction—they persevered.
Within the first couple of years following their initial
meeting, this small group of determined parents sought 501©3 status from the
Internal Revenue Service, investigated and accessed funding from a number of
sources, established scholarship criteria (based upon scholastic achievement,
extra-curricular activities and community involvement of the applicant) and
changed their name, thus the establishment of “The Howard County Foundation for
Black Educational and Cultural Achievement, Inc.” (hereinafter referred to as
“The Foundation”). The first group of students was awarded scholarships by The
Foundation in 1979—a crowning achievement! Each year since that time, with the
exception of 1985 and 1986, when the organization took a hiatus, The Foundation
has awarded college scholarships to qualified African-American high school
graduates of Howard County.
Since its inception, the chief source of funding for The
Foundation’s scholarships has been the African-American community, in keeping
with its original ideal as a self-help, grassroots organization. Solicitations
were made from black families, individuals, businesses and other community
organizations. A unique strategy was utilized in which a donor could become a
Foundation “member” for the amount of $52 (based on the concept of $1 per week,
per year). As the organization has evolved, the donor base has broadened
considerably. At this point, funding is received from a variety of sources,
including businesses, fraternities, sororities, churches and other
organizations, both for profit and non-profit.
For many years, the sum of $1,000 represented the basic
scholarship award. Quite often a lottery drawing was utilized, thus embracing
the element of fairness. Some years, the funding has been large enough to
underwrite an award for each applicant, making the lottery unnecessary. In
recent years, a book award has been instituted. This is given to each qualified
applicant who does not receive a scholarship. In 2007, the amount of the basic
scholarship award was increased to $1,500.
Whereas the scholarship program has been the principal
activity of The Foundation, other areas have also been explored. Many of the
alternative events have included a cultural aspect and also served as
fundraisers. This category includes sponsoring trips to Broadway shows in New
York, Book Fairs, a performance at Toby’s Dinner Theatre, to name a few. Other
significant activities are the college tours offered to students, most notably,
the trips to Washington, Oberlin and Vanderbilt Universities for the period
1995-2002. (These trips were sponsored in conjunction with and were funded by
Washington University). In addition, tours of black colleges were implemented
by The Foundation in 1997, utilizing funds from a grant provided by Associated
Black Charities (ABC).
Special awards were established over the years in memory
of individuals having a legacy of service to the community. The
following Special Awards are listed below, with date of initiation.
Delores P. Harper (1979): Community activist and
early Foundation supporter, along with husband, Robert, who funded the Award
for many years.
Dr. James F. Cooper (1983): Founding member and
early supporter of Foundation; Practicing Psychiatrist. Award has been funded
by wife Jean, daughter and son-in-law for many years.
Gilda W. Lewis (1987): Founding member of the
Foundation. Past President of Columbia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta
Sorority, who designated scholarship in her name. The Sorority has funded
the award at $1,000 a year for twenty-four years.
Since its
inception, The Foundation has employed various fundraising strategies. In
addition, the donor base has been broadened to include a variety of
organizations from the larger community who have given assistance. The
following entries will attest to the success of these endeavors.
Adopt-a-Student Program (1989): Student may be
“adopted” in honor or memory of loved one. Minimum contribution is $500. Has
been very popular (see chart elsewhere in this program).
Hammond High School Black Cultural Awareness Club
(1989): Held fundraiser for The Foundation. Similar clubs from other high
schools participated.
Rotary Club, Columbia Town Center (1990): The
Foundation received donation for the first time.
Columbia Foundation (1990): Since that time, has
provided annual operating grants to The Foundation.
Columbia Foundation (1999): Selected The Foundation
to be the recipient of matching Endowment Funds for three consecutive years.
The maximum matching grant of $5,000 was exceeded each year.
Howard County Volunteer Community Organization of the
Year (2001): Named by County Executive and County Council—expression of
appreciation for The Foundation’s work with youth.
Casey Willis Making a Difference Award
(2002): Foundation was recipient of community service award in spirit of
award’s namesake, Carolyn “Casey” Willis, wife of Dr. Willis. This award
included a $1,500 cash prize.
Twenty-fifth Anniversary (1977-2002): Celebrated in
October, 2002, with banquet at Columbia Sheraton Hotel. Proceeds benefitted
scholarship fund. Net profit from ads in souvenir journal: $2,769.
Mano Swartz Furrier (2003 & 2004): Donated items
of fur to be raffled off. Net profit to Foundation first year: $1,800; second
year: $300.
Charles Brown Adopt-a-Student (2006): Gave $5,000 in
memory of his wife, Shirley Vining-Brown, Founder of “One Generation Helping
the Next” Youth Enrichment Program, Inc. Award was largest single donation in
Foundation’s history. Donation was awarded to a needy student.
Rotary Club of Columbia – Patuxent (2000): Special
thanks go to club for significant contributions made to the Foundation from
2000 – 2014.