RALEIGH—Ken Perry is a big guy. He likes the camaraderie he knew as a member of an ACC championship football team. And he wants to do "something positive" for his African American community.
That's partly why he showed up at a meeting of about 35 African American men to listen to Perry's friend Darryl Lester. Perry is vice president of operations for the Methodist Home for Children and knew Lester from their mutual non-profit work.
Lester, president of HindSight, Inc., a non-profit that recently sponsored the Community Investment Network Conference here, introduced the men to the growing movement of "giving circles."
The first meeting was in a Research Triangle Park office six months ago. "We talked about what we did and what our needs were in the community," recalls Perry. "It was really fun, and I didn't want to miss the next one." So, he kept coming, and the last two monthly meetings have been at Lester's home.
"I liked what Darryl said. We don't have a lot of money, but collectively, we could do much more," he says. "We did a lot of brainstorming. I knew I had something to offer; for instance, I write grants in my work at the Methodist Home."
He enjoyed the company and the conversation, especially about the group's desire to counter the negative news coming out of the black community. "This group talked about doing positive things," he says.
As a start, they settled on a name, A LOT, which stands for A Legacy of Tradition, namely, the African American tradition of helping their own in need. Then, Perry and a table-full of members showed up at Lester's conference to learn more about starting a "giving circle." NC Gives, a Raleigh-based initiative, helped fund the conference.
A LOT participants were joined by about 130 others, some already engaged in small non-profits and a few representing large organizations such as the Ford Foundation and the National Heritage Foundation. They learned about tax advantages of forming a 501 C-3 corporation as well as the value of networking and how to leverage their own circle's money.
They met others, many like Perry who are engaged in human service work and who wanted to do more through small philanthropies. Perry says his group decided in August to "ante-up" and each member contributed $50 a month to start a fund. "We will give it to the Triangle Community Foundation to manage," he says. Perry expects A LOT will contribute to "other folks already engaged in the community."
While A LOT hasn't decided on specific recipients, Perry himself wants to "do something about reading." He saw how his father, who didn't get past 5th Grade, constantly read and raised and educated a family of 14. "When he told you a story, it was like he was talking just to you," Perry remembers. "If a child can read, he has so many more opportunities."
He recognizes the challenges ahead such as establishing an efficient organizational structure. But he is confident that by Lester's conference next year, A LOT will have done a lot.
Guy talk turns to giving back
