Black Philanthropy Month and #GullahGeechee2020

For the past five years, the Gullah/Geechee Nation has encouraged others to participate in the annual celebration of “Black Philanthropy Month.” The month was created in August of 2011 by Dr. Jackie Copeland-Carson, the co-founder of the Pan-African Women’s Philanthropy Network. Every August we recognize and celebrate the primary goal of Black Philanthropy Month which is to “inform, involve, and inspire Black philanthropy.”

As stated at the site for the celebration:

“Good Philanthropy isn’t just money; it is a healthy balance between sharing your time, talent, and treasure. Research shows that as a community we tend to align ourselves with organizations that influence the neighborhoods we live in. This is because we fully understand that local nonprofits, community centers, and youth programs, do a better job addressing our issues than any public or government-sponsored program. Perhaps you may not have the money to invest in a local organization, but you have a couple of hours to spare, your time is as good as money. We have to reinvest into our communities and prioritize our issues because no one else is going to do it.”

Black Philanthropy Month 2020” is “a global celebration, revival and mobilization of Black giving in all its forms to advance Black communities everywhere.” Therefore, the leaders of the Gullah/Geechee Nation are calling on Black people around the world to celebrate “Black Philanthropy Month” as part of #GullahGeechee2020 by supporting this month by supporting Black institutions, organizations, and community projects where they are and by

• donating to the “Gullah/Geechee Land & Legacy” campaign via CashApp to $GullahGeecheeNation or at this GoFundMe link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/gullahgeechee-land-legacy-fund

• becoming dues paying members of the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition (www.gullahgeechee.net) and working on projects to sustain Gullah/Geechee culture, our environment and our land ownership

• donating to the official 501(c)3 of the Gullah/Geechee Nation which is the Gullah/Geechee Angel Network (www.gullahgeecheeangelnetwork.com)

• supporting the youth and community outreach work of “Buddy Bo Inc.https://www.facebook.com/BuddyBoInc

and the Gullah/Geechee Initiative Foundation
http://GullahGeecheeIF.org/

• supporting Geechee Kunda https://www.geecheekundaga.com/

• supporting Destiny Community Café https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/ExpressDonation.aspx?ORGID2=81-0808160&fbclid=IwAR01Q0CEyXSRDIXsv6yG935vTXdbTMCQwEFJv4ZYXQoLBGZMQ1d8YB4qio4&vlrStratCode=dy%2bCxT%2bjF%2fLLfHHW73zR4T7noFKnVVinkLDQy4khENh7ZLl%2bIWf%2fl7iYVIJe5YOn

The hashtags #BPM365 and #BlackGivingMatters are used so that the founders of Black Philanthropy Month can track the financial impacts in the Black community.  There have been numerous works written about how philanthropy impacts communities and the Gullah/Geechee community is no different than other places in that regard.  The more that people positively and financially contribute to the community, the better the quality of life can be in that community.  A very interesting graphic from an online blog about corporations effectively captures how #BlackGivingMatters can and should be taken and how this can assist in the Gullah/Geechee Nation:

total-corporate-social-responsibility

With economics being the base of the pyramid, the more sustainable a community can become.  Corporations realize this, but Black Philanthropy Month is a vehicle through which communities are acting on this.  The Gullah/Geechee Nation‘s leaders are praying that this vehicle will continue to drive support directly to Gullah/Geechee owned and operated institutions and events. Given that August is also “Black Business Month,” the more that Black and Gullah/Geechee owned business are supported, the more the proprietors can participate in philanthropic activities in their own and other Black communities. So, tenki tenki ta all hunnuh chillun wha gwine jayn and support we!


Gullah/Geechee Riddim Radio has hosted several broadcasts over the years that are worth tuning into during this celebration:

Giving, Garvey, and the Gullah/Geechee

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/gullahgeechee/2015/08/10/giving-garvey-and-the-gullahgeechee

Black Southern Economy, Philanthropy and the Gullah/Geechee

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/gullahgeechee/2015/08/17/black-southern-economy-philanthropy-and-the-gullahgeechee

Sustaining the Gullah/Geechee Economy

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/gullahgeechee/2015/08/27/sustaining-the-gullahgeechee-economy

Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation (www.QueenQuet.com) is calling upon supporters and citizens of the Gullah/Geechee Nation to fully participate in “Black Philanthropy Month” and “Black Business Month” in celebration of the “International Decade of People of African Descent.”   This decade is one during which people of African Descent can stand together to sustain the institutions and activities that are contributing to the quality of life of the people in their communities.  Seeing these things thrive and seeing business remain open in spite of a pandemic will truly be a living example of how #BlackGivingMatters.  So, hunnuh chillun gwine on an gee and mek sho #BlackGivingMatters fa #GullahGeechee2020!

www.gullahgeecheenation.com

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