African Americans philanthropists lead bold fundraising effort to support health disparities research
When COVID-19 first began to impact Milwaukee County in spring 2020, the first eight deaths reported were all African Americans.
That statistic, while sobering, was an important conversation starter for Jackie Herd-Barber and Cory Nettles when talking with other philanthropists. The statistic shed a spotlight on the urgency to address racial inequity and health disparities in Milwaukee.
In fall of 2020, the two spearheaded an initiative of the ThriveOn Collaboration, a partnership between the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Medical College of Wisconsin and Royal Capital, that raised $2 million in three months to endow a chair at MCW. The funds support work by Leonard Egede, M.D., M.S., that aims to reduce the burden of chronic disease and eliminate health disparities in high-risk communities of color.
“Health disparities are a major roadblock to communities of color surviving, thriving and succeeding,” said Herd-Barber, who contributed, along with her husband, Michael. “We are not going to let anything stop us to make sure [communities of color] have the resources to truly make a difference in the community.”
The collective investment, fronted by African American leaders, predominantly supported by African American philanthropists and supporting the work of an African researcher, it is reimagining the way philanthropy is done in Milwaukee.
“Engaging more diverse donors in collaborative philanthropy is part of our new era of philanthropy that is more inclusive, collaborative, antiracist and impactful,” said Ellen Gilligan, Foundation president and CEO. “We are proud to serve the donors who gave to and through the Foundation in support of this effort.”
Neither Herd-Barber nor Nettles, both Foundation and MCW board members, had been involved in a fundraising effort that raised such a large amount of money in a short period of time. Nettles was particularly inspired by contributions from the African American community.
“All the time I’ve been doing philanthropy in this community, never had African American families stepped up at this level for any one cause,” Nettles said.
Nettles knew the capacity was there but said that traditionally, African American philanthropists have not been strategically engaged around causes that have aligned with their personal philanthropic passions.
“It says to the community that this is a group of philanthropists who ought to be engaged and not ignored,” said Nettles, who contributed with his wife, Michelle.
MOTIVATING FACTORS
The structural inequities laid bare by COVID-19 and the call for racial justice following the killing of George Floyd motivated philanthropists. So too did Egede’s drive and commitment to ensure that the community thrives.
“He was willing to meet people where they are at and try to come up with interventions, solutions and prevention strategies to change some of the statistics,” said Greg Wesley, a Foundation Board member and MCW senior vice president who gave along with his wife, Lisa.
This marked the first time Derek Tyus, a senior executive at West Bend Mutual Insurance Company and Foundation Board member, contributed to medical research. His philanthropy traditionally focuses on supporting education, children and young people. But after learning about Egede’s work, he was convinced it was something he needed to support, particularly as he is from Milwaukee.
“We need to be invested in our own community to help to address and mitigate some of these various serious and systemic issues,” said Tyus, who contributed with his wife, Dwanyell Thomas.
NEXT GEN PHILANTHROPY
Collaborative philanthropy dispels myths that an individual needs to be ultra-wealthy or wait until later in life to give, said Kevin Newell, 37, president and CEO of Royal Capital, who made his largest personal gift to the cause.
“To be able to participate in something I believe will have generational impact on the trajectory of our community means a lot because I don’t just see numbers or names. I see faces,” said Newell, born and raised in Milwaukee. “It is our responsibility to take some leadership and find ways to improve the community we come from and the Black community in particular.”
Herd-Barber’s children, Justin, 29, and Lauren, 31, also gave at a level in which they hadn’t before. Their mother’s passion had an influence, but they too believed in the potential impact Egede’s research would have in helping create a Milwaukee for all to thrive. The fundraising effort by the African American philanthropists also conveys an important message to millennials like Justin.
“We can do something very similar on a smaller scale and in the future maybe surpass all the great things they have done,” he said.