Happy New Year!
A note from Mary Black Foundation President & CEO, Molly Talbot-Metz.
The Mary Black Foundation would like to wish you a happy and healthy 2024! As we begin the new year, we want to take a moment to reflect on the successes of 2023.
- In 2023, the Foundation granted over $2.9 million to over 50 nonprofit organizations that are working to improve the health and wellbeing of Spartanburg County. The Foundation has now provided over $68.7 million in total grant funding since our reconfiguration as a private foundation, exceeding our original endowment of $63 million!
- We made our first grants through the gift we received from MacKenzie Scott, providing $850,000 to eleven organizations that are effectively integrating behavioral health care into their missions in ways that make it accessible, affordable, and culturally relevant. We anticipate making more grants in 2024 after participating in a comprehensive planning process around behavioral health needs.
- We were excited to participate in the development and launch of Movement 2030, a community plan to advance economic mobility and educational attainment in Spartanburg County. The Foundation made a $2M commitment over five years to support early education strategies and we committed to leverage a portion of our MacKenzie Scott grant to support behavioral health needs of students in Spartanburg County.
- In early 2023, we recognized Mt. Moriah Baptist Church with the Dr. George Newby, Jr. Health Equity Leadership Award. As part of the award recognition, Mt. Moriah received a $25,000 grant to support its community health initiatives.
- After a strategic planning process, we announced a new focus on children and families. We believe this holistic approach is the most strategic pathway to achieving our vision of a welcoming and connected community where all residents can achieve health and wellbeing.
- Internally, we added two new positions and welcomed Cassidy Reynolds as our Communications and Events Manager and Rochelle Williams, Vice President of Strategy and Programs.
- We also thanked retiring trustees, Ethan Burroughs, Karen Knuckles, and Gregg Wade for their many years of board service and welcomed new trustees: Dr. Julie Fowler, Dr. Ebony Gaffney, and Ms. Laura Henthorn. In 2024, our Board of Trustees will be led by: Reverend Scott Neely as chair; Dr. Kofi Appiah, as vice chair/chair-elect; and Mr. Sloan Evans as secretary/treasurer.
As we look ahead to 2024, we are excited to announce that Natalia Valenzuela Swanson has been promoted to Senior Program Director. After almost 9 years with the Foundation, Natalia has become an integral part of our program team and a trusted partner in our community work. In her new role, she will continue to work alongside and support our grantee partners while also taking on new responsibilities to grow as a leader in the organization.
In 2024, we look forward to restructuring our blogs and newsletters. As we transition, there will be a brief pause in our regular weekly content. Stay tuned for more!
2024 will be another impactful year in which the Foundation will make strategic investments to increase opportunities for residents of Spartanburg County to achieve health and wellbeing. We are very excited about the year ahead!
