Kim BrattainFounder/ CEO, Kim Brattain Media · Award-winning Corporate and Documentary Film Producer

National Philanthropy Day with Valaida Fullwood | Motivational Video

31 Jul 2023 · 2 min

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1:57

In this motivational talk, Valada Fullwood introduces the New Generation of African American Philanthropists (NGAP) Charlotte, a group she founded to amplify Black giving traditions—time, talent, and treasure—within the Charlotte community. She recounts co-presenting a TEDxCharlotte talk with Charles Thomas, emphasizing authenticity and the power of sharing personal philanthropy stories. The talk was later transformed into a touring museum exhibition, "The Soul of Philanthropy," which has visited dozens of communities to foster civic engagement and reshape perceptions of philanthropy. Fullwood calls for broader recognition of the diverse cultures of giving and asserts that the future of NGAP is defined by courage and boldness in philanthropic action.

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Hi, I'm Valada Fullwood, and I started a group to promote greater giving in Charlotte. So our group is New Generation of African American Philanthropists, NGAP Charlotte for short, and we formed because we thought it was important to have a more prominent presence in the community as Black givers and philanthropists and to lift up and elevate traditions of giving That exist in Black communities. That included stories of giving of time, talent, and treasure. That was pretty awesome, being a part of TEDxCharlotte. We did a co-presentation. It was me along with Charles Thomas, who is a co-creator of the book Giving Back and also a member of our Giving Circle. As we engaged a variety of Black people across generations around their stories of giving and philanthropy, the TED Talk centered around authenticity and the power of sharing your stories. And one of the most gratifying, affirming things is that it's been reimagined as a touring museum exhibition called The Soul of Philanthropy that's been to dozens of communities and provides a way to host civic engagement and engage people around their stories of philanthropy and help them see philanthropy differently. If I could change anything in the world, particularly at this time, it would be a broader recognition of the, the power and the diversity diversity of cultures of giving. I know for me and my fellow members of New Generation of African American Philanthropists, the path forward is really defined by our courage and our boldness in how we engage in philanthropy.