Philanthropic Partners: Passing Gear Philanthropy - Meeting the Moment
Join John Simpkins, the new president of MDC, as he shares with South Carolina’s grant-makers his vision of the Thriving South that we could be possible in this generational moment.
“The South is a place of promise, but it has a past that it still hasn’t fully reckoned with,” said Simpkins, who grew up in Lexington, South Carolina. “I can’t think of a better way to go back to where I was planted than with MDC—a ‘think tank with muddy boots’ that’s committed to equity and economic mobility. Because at this moment, equity and economic mobility are essential for driving the South into a new post-COVID reality.”
Through its State of the South report, Growth for Impact strategies, and the Equity-Centered Leadership approach exemplified by Passing Gear Philanthropy, MDC is engaged in the deep work of systems design for systems change to promote racial equity through economic mobility.
By reading reality truthfully, rigorously analyzing data, and promoting individual and organizational transformation, MDC is building on its half-century commitment to lasting change in leadership, community development, and economic security.
Presented by:
Guest Speaker:
President, MDC
Facilitator:
President & CEO, Coastal Community Foundation
Attendees (64)
Susan B Bankson
Wells Fargo
Laila Bell
The Duke Endowment
Edie Blakeslee
Vice President, Grantmaking & Community Leadership
Coastal Community Foundation of SC
Tannesha Clements
Executive Director/ COO
Lydia's Bowels of Mercy Home, Inc
Chris Collins
Associate Director Health Care
The Duke Endowment
Debbie Cooper
Director of Community Impact
Community Foundation of Greenville
Susan DeVenny
CEO
Arras Foundation
Amanda Dow
Duke Energy Foundation Manager- SC
Duke Energy Foundation
Jennifer Evins
President / CEO
Chapman Cultural Center
Betty Gardiner
Director of Grantmaking and Development
South Carolina First Steps
Darrin Goss
President & CEO
Coastal Community Foundation of SC
Keisha Gray
Program Director, Early Childhood Development
Mary Black Foundation
Kaela Hammond
Program & Compliance Manager
Coastal Community Foundation of SC
Mary Dell Hayes
Project Manager, SC Counts 2020
United Way Association of SC
Quinn Hayes
Program & Grants Manager
Harvest Hope Food Bank
Veronica Hemmingway
Southern Lowcountry Director
Coastal Community Foundation of SC
Hannah Jarrett
Director of Economic Mobility Strategy
United Way of the Piedmont
Angel Johnson-Brebner
Executive Vice President
Coastal Community Foundation
Erika Kirby
Executive Director
BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation
Naomi Lett
President / CEO
United Way Association of SC
Marisel Losa
President & CEO
United Way of Greenwood and Abbeville Counties
Terri Lottchea
Operations Manger
Frances P. Bunnelle Foundation
Kevin McCray
Community Building & Grants Manager
Frances P. Bunnelle Foundation
Tish McCutchen
Director
Jolley Foundation
Madeleine McGee
Former President/CEO, Together SC
Together SC
Mamie Nicholson
President
The Self Family Foundation
Marc Pitman
CEO
The Concord Leadership Group
Richard Puffer
Fmr. Executive Director
The Byerly Foundation
Allison Safford
Community Investments Officer
Hollingsworth Funds
Geales Sands
Executive Director
Frances P. Bunnelle Foundation
Megan Seiner
Executive Director
SC Bar Foundation
Michelle Shain
Senior Director of Development
United Way of Greenville County
Langley Shealy
Administrator
SC Grantmakers Network
Katy Sides
Director of Learning
Hollingsworth Funds
Katy Smith
Executive Director
Piedmont Health Foundation
Tamela Spann
Vice President, Community Investments
Hollingsworth Funds
Molly Talbot-Metz
President & CEO
Mary Black Foundation
JoAnn Turnquist
Retired April 2024
Central Carolina Community Foundation
Natalia Valenzuela Swanson
Senior Program Director
Mary Black Foundation
Donna Waites
President & CEO
Sisters of Charity Foundation of SC
Ann Warner
Interim CEO, International Center for Research on Women
WREN
Ashley Whitt
Vice President of Grants and Community Impact
The Spartanburg County Foundation
Heather Witt
Executive Director
United Way of the Piedmont
Ericka Wooten
Director of Culture and Values
Sisters of Charity Foundation of SC
Patricia Wright
Program Associate
Coastal Community Foundation of SC
Monthly Calls Hosted by:
Chris Steed,
Fullerton Foundation, Executive Director
SC Grantmakers Network, Chair
Naomi Lett,
United Way Association of SC, President & CEO
Madeleine McGee,
Together SC, President
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