Compiled by Speakin’ Out News staff; photo credits: Shelly Williams, Speakin’ Out News photographer

(LEFT- RIGHT): Community Foundation’s Board of Directors Chair Ray White, Huntsville Office Managing Member, Warren Averett; Melissa Thompson, CAP, CEO/ President, Brenda Martin, City of Huntsville representative, and Community Foundation Board member, Chris Russell, Wealth Advisor, Linscomb & Williams.
(LEFT – RIGHT) Beth Martin, Senior Vice President at Worthington Federal Bank and Katie Woods, Director of Communications.
(LEFT – RIGHT): by Karen Stanely, Vice President of Finance and Marketing at Stanley Construction Company and Alabama A&M University President Dr. Daniel K. Wims. (photo credit: AAMU)
(LEFT – RIGHT) Ann Kvach, Community Foundation Program Officer and Dianne Reynolds
(LEFT – RIGHT) Jamal Ali, Marketing Director, Alabama A&M University and William D. Smothers, publisher, Speakin’ Out News (photo credit: AAMU)

(HUNTSVILLE, AL) — The Racial Equity Fund Annual Luncheon was held on February 9, 2023, at the Ernest Knight Center on the Campus of Alabama A&M University, sponsored by Facebook (Meta).

The luncheon opened with a Welcome by Karen Stanley, Vice President of Finance and Marketing at Stanley Construction Company in Huntsville. Afterward, Alabama A&M University President Dr. Daniel K. Wims gave Greetings. Presenting Sponsor was Katie Comer, Facebook Community Development Manager. Pastor David Lee, Madison Mission Seventh-day Adventist Church, gave the Invocation , and Melissa Thompson, Melissa Thompson CAP®, CEO/President, presented an overview of the Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville’s Racial Equity.

Launched in June of 2020, the Racial Equity Fund received support from seventy founding donors and thirteen sustaining donors committed to tackling systemic racism and inequity through programs and projects addressing five primary categories: the criminal justice system, education and job readiness, health and wellness, income and wealth creation, and neighborhoods and communities.

In 2021, The Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville announced Racial Equity Fund grants totaling $71,460. These grants were awarded to eleven recipients that offered strategic solutions to combat the harmful and deeply rooted challenges surrounding racism and inequity that have affected our community for generations. Last year, Community Foundation was very generous and awarded twelve grants of over $90,000 to fund community projects, once again, to address racial equity gaps to improve the quality of life for all who live in the Greater Huntsville community.

Nancy Vaughn, President of the Junior League of Huntsville, presented Grant Updates. Then, Impact Stories were given by Bartley Bridge and the Boys & Girls Club of North Alabama. Dianne Reynolds gave a passionate Donor Testimonial. Lastly, after a video presentation, the luncheon ended with Karen Stanley inviting participants to invest and donate to a worthy cause.

For more information about this fund, the grant process, or to donate, please visit Community- FoundationHSV.org/Equity.

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