The Philanthropic Black Women of Memphis, founded in 2005 by nine African-American women, presents Sister Lakshmie Napagoda (center) with a $5,000 check for her charitable group, DeNeuville Learning Center, at an awards luncheon on April 20. Two other groups were awarded funds as well. Presenting Napagoda with the check were Carolyn Hardy, Belinda Watkins, Edith Kelly Green, the honoree, Mary McDaniel, Nelda Burroughs and Deidre Malone. (Photo by Wiley Henry / The Carter Malone Group)
Three community groups requesting funds from the Philanthropic Black Women of Memphis (PBWM) were awarded grants during an awards luncheon on April 20 at Bleu Restaurant & Lounge in the Westin Hotel in Downtown Memphis.
DeNeuville Learning Center (House of the Good Shepherd of Memphis), an organization that guides women from all backgrounds and cultures in learning the skills needed to make positive choices for themselves and their families, received $5,000. Sister Lakshmie Napagoda, who founded DeNeuville in 1998, accepted the award.
The National Coalition of 100 Black Women Memphis Chapter was awarded $2,500. The organization of progressive African-American women advocates and promotes other women of color in the areas of health, education, and economic empowerment. Bettye L. Boone, the coalition’s president, accepted the award.
Morris Brown accepted the award of $2,175 for his group, the Memphis Blackhawks Aviation Association. The nonprofit targets underprivileged, urban and inner-city youth that are in desperate need of clear direction and positive role models in their lives.
The Blackhawks also exposes young men and women to all aspects of the aviation industry, said Brown, the group’s president.
The PBWM was founded in 2005 by nine professional and civic-minded African-American women with a vested interest in philanthropy. Their charitable contributions have always centered on children, education, and self-sufficiency.
The members are Debra E. Evans of ViaSys Technology, Inc.; Nelda Burroughs of First Choice Sales & Marketing Group; Attorney Monice Hagler of The Law Office of Monice Moore Hagler; Carolyn Hardy of Chism Hardy Enterprises; Edith Kelly-Green of The KGR Group; Deidre Malone of The Carter Malone Group; Mary McDaniel, State Alcoholic and Beverage Commission; LaShell Vaughn of MLGW; and Belinda Watkins of FedEx Corp.