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"I may have been somewhat of a trailblazer in banking, but it is gratifying to know that I was not the last Black banking executive," Charles Stewart tells Arkansas Matters.
The 73-year-old is the co-founder of the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame, which was founded in 1992 and has since honored more than 100 people with its annual Black Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
Stewart, who was Arkansas' first black bank executive when he started Regions Financial in Little Rock in the 1970s, tells Arkansas Matters that he founded the hall with Patricia Goodwin, executive director of the Arkansas Minority Business Development Council, after attending an awards ceremony in Atlanta.
"Patricia had attended the Trumpet Awards in Atlanta and was interested in doing something like that in Arkansas," Stewart says.
"I told her that I had developed a concept that I thought would be a good way to recognize the achievements of African Americans with Arkansas ties."
The Hall of Fame, which awards grants to nonprofits in the state, moved to its own 501(c)(3) status in 2003 and Stewart says he hopes it will continue to grow. "It is my further hope that America will have grown to the realization that Black history is American history and that we will be a nation that values the contributions of all its people."
Selected Grant News Headlines
A customized collection of grant news from foundations and the federal government from around the Web.
Haril Kazindra and wife Andrea are the co-founders of Musana, a community development NGO that runs 19 social enterprises across Uganda.Musana has offices in Denver and London and employs 700 staff,...more
Foundation: Lilly Endowment
All In Kosciusko exists to promote and accelerate the economic and community development already happening across the county.Concerns about economic diversification, talent retention and quality of...more
The Bill Gatton Foundation supports K-12 and higher education, health, and community development in Kentucky, Upper East Tennessee, and Southwest Virginia.Large education grants include $13.5 million...more
Local organizations win $9 million for new affordable housing, social services.Connecticut's Community Investment Fund grants come amid a deluge of cuts to federal funding.The fund was established in...more
Foundation: Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation
Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation has proudly supported Bread & Broth for the past 10 years.In 2024, the Community Foundation was able to introduce the mission of Bread and Broth to a donor who is...more
Foundation: Latino Community Foundation
Latino Community Foundation Awards $3.88M in Grants Across California and Nevada.NewsBreak: Latino Community Foundation awards $3,000,000 in grants across California andNevada.Newsbreak: $1.5 million...more
Alejandro Betancourt Lopez rejects traditional corporate social responsibility models that separate business operations from community impact.Rather than limiting community engagement to corporate...more
Thoughtful giving isn't just about making a donation, it's about creating meaningful impact.Community foundations exist to connect generosity with need, ensuring that charitable giving is both...more
Kareem Thomas most recently served as Chief Credit and Lending Administration Officer at Reinvestment Fund.Bhavani Daryanani has more than 20 years of experience in the sector, bringing deep...more
SECU Foundation has been named a recipient of the 2024 Carolinas Credit Union Foundation Hero Award for Partner in Philanthropy.The SECU Foundation promotes local community development in North...more
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