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Birmingham Promise, a local nonprofit devoted to preparing students in Birmingham City Schools to achieve economic prosperity, was awarded a grant of $1 million to support their scholarship and internship programs, the nonprofit announced Thursday, Sept. 18.
The award comes from The CAFE Group, a nonprofit that invests in visionary leaders, early-career talent, and the infrastructure of social change. Birmingham Promise Executive Director Samantha Williams is one of five winners of the 1954 Project Luminary Award.
The award is named for the Brown v. Board of Education decision from 1954.
The Luminary Award is given to leaders at organizations that are “working to transform educational outcomes in Black community. Other awardees are:
“These leaders represent the breadth of innovation happening across the education ecosystem,” said Tiffany Thompson, Chief Impact Officer of The CAFE Group. “Together, this new class strengthens the infrastructure for lasting change and pushes us closer to a future where educational opportunity clears the way for every child to thrive.”
Birmingham Promise provides up to four years of tuition assistance for graduates of Birmingham City Schools to attend any public college or university in the state, according to their website. Other programs include providing coaches to students so they can succeed in college.
The organization was founded in 2020, and Williams joined the team as executive director in 2022. She has a wealth of experience under her belt — Williams led the Global Girls’ Education Initiative during her nine years at Teach For All. Before that, she worked at Harvard University, the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa and Communities In Schools of Georgia.
Since its founding, Birmingham Promise has provided more than $10.98 million in tuition assistance and other support to 1,600 local graduates, their website says.
The CAFE Group award is another massive grant under their belt. In 2021, they received $1.8 million from Bloomberg Philanthropies. In 2024, Birmingham Promise received $10 million from the PNC Foundation.
“It is an incredible honor to be selected as a Luminary,” Williams said. “This is a testament to how powerfully our mission and students’ achievements resonate, reaching national donors who have hundreds of organizations and leaders to choose from. I couldn’t be more excited for this partnership and the support and opportunities it will provide.”
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Breaking Content Producer. Casual birder + enjoyer of the Alabama outdoors. Frequent coffee shop patron. Ravenous reader. Previously @ AL.com, Georgia Trust for Local News, Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Get in touch at maryhelene@bhamnow.com.
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