Jack and Jill of America Foundation Inc.

Overview

The Jack and Jill of America Foundation Inc. is the philanthropic arm of Jack and Jill of America, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of African American children. Founded in 1968, it primarily focuses on initiatives related to early childhood education, health care equity, and housing stability for African American families.

History and Development

Established in 1968, the foundation has evolved over time to address broader national issues. Initially, it supported local chapter programs and volunteer events. In 2002, the foundation moved its headquarters to Washington, D.C., marking a shift towards more national-scale initiatives.

One of its earliest funded initiatives was a decade-long partnership with Florida A&M and Ohio State University aimed at enhancing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) literacy among African American high school students.

Mission and Activities

The foundation's mission is to address issues affecting African American children and families by investing in programs that provide a strong foundation for their long-term success. Its primary focus areas include:

• Education: The foundation supports educational programs from early childhood through college, with a significant emphasis on initiatives like the Jack and Jill Reading Corners. It also offers collegiate financial assistance through its College Prep grants and Foundation Scholars scholarship.
• Health: Local chapters organize health fairs to provide essential health services and awareness.
• Familial Support: It provides grants to African American families in need, focusing on creating stable environments for children.

Initiatives

A notable recent initiative is the "Close the Gap" program, which aims to ensure that students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) graduate debt-free by establishing a $2 million endowment. This program partners with several HBCUs, including Savannah State, Alcorn, Prairie View A&M, and Huston-Tillotson.

Financial Management

The foundation relies heavily on proceeds from local chapters and investment returns for its funding. A small portion of its revenues come from external foundations and corporations.

Leadership

Key leadership positions include the Executive Director and the President of the foundation. As of available data, the executive director is Pier Blake, and the president is Icilma Fergus-Rowe, who also serves as Director of Cardiovascular Disparities at Mount Sinai Medical Center.

References

References for this article include the Jack and Jill of America Foundation's annual reports and publicly available documents.