Black Fives Foundation Adds New Board Members
Diverse cohort of five new members strengthens our mission and focus
By Claude Johnson
Welcoming New Board Members
I am thrilled to welcome five new members to our Board of Directors here at the Black Fives Foundation. They are Tiffany Crowe, Cassius Johnson, Kiel King, Kevin McGruder, and Charles Wade. This addition marks an auspicious moment in the life of the organization.
Tiffany is currently the director of Washington, DC’s Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection. She is also a descendant of Black Fives pioneer George Crowe who was Indiana’s first “Mr. Basketball” and later played for the New York Rens. George also a record-setting first baseman who played for several Major League Baseball teams.
It’s an honor to join the Black Fives Board. My entire life, the legacy of our family, the Crowe Family, has loomed large. When Claude began his journey all those years ago, he graciously included descendants of my Uncles George and Ray Crowe, both of whom helped raise my father, Brad. I never dreamed that I would have the opportunity to support Mr. Johnson’s work, and the work of the Black Fives organization, so closely. I look forward to helping expand the already impressive work of the Board. Thank you for having me!
– Tiffany Crowe
Cassius is an account associate at DKC Sports, a public relations agency in New York City. He formerly won four NCAA Division I conference titles playing football as a cornerback with the University of San Diego where he graduated with a degree in business administration.
Kiel, a military veteran and graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, runs the Kings of Fitness strength and conditioning training facility in upstate New York. He is also a descendant of Black Fives pioneer William “Dolly” King who played with the New York Rens and the Dayton Rens as well as the Washington Bears, with whom he won a World’s Pro Basketball Tournament Championship in 1943.
Kevin is a historian, author, and associate professor of history at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. His background includes nonprofit and museum leadership experience while his research interests include African American institutions, urban history, and gay and lesbian history.
Joining The Black Fives Foundation provides me with an opportunity to share my knowledge of African American history during the Black Fives era gained through my research on race and real estate in Harlem. In addition, I hope that my expertise, from decades of work with nonprofit organizations, will be beneficial as the Black Fives Foundation continues to grow.
– Kevin McGruder
Charles is a retired sales and marketing strategist from South Orange, New Jersey, with expertise in helping small businesses improve their digital presence and implementing large-scale cloud computing and infrastructure solutions.
Our Mission and Slogan
The Black Fives Foundation is a 501(c)3 tax exempt public charity whose mission is to inspire excellence in youth by preserving, teaching, and honoring the pre-NBA history of African Americans in basketball. Our slogan is “Make History Now.” We were incorporated as a nonprofit in 2013.
Our Milestones and Achievements
When I first discovered the incredible history of the Black Fives over 25 years ago, I was driven by nothing more than a vision and a lot of youthful energy. These were extraordinary Black athletes who overcame tremendous odds amid racial segregation to build a legacy of astonishing merit and achievement that was largely overlooked.
Today, thanks to our work, we’ve achieved noteworthy accomplishments that include:
- a renowned archive of artifacts that has been exhibited in world-class museums such as the LBJ Presidential Library
- global visibility thanks to partnerships with iconic brands such as PUMA
- powerful educational programming with major collegiate athletic conferences such as the BIG EAST
- growing awareness among NBA teams and players such as the Atlanta Hawks, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Brooklyn Nets
- advocacy that led to the enshrinement of twelve previously forgotten or ignored African American players and contributors from the “Black Fives Era” in the Basketball Hall of Fame
- the signing of University of Connecticut Women’s Basketball star point guard Kamorea “KK” Arnold as our Education and Leadership Ambassador, believed to the first NIL (name, identity, and likeness) deal of its kind
Our impact has expanded with a social media reach of 19 million and 127,000 social media interactions with 117,000 likes in just the past four years (Brand24) on platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. More importantly, the once-forgotten basketball pioneers of the Black Fives Era are now recognized collectively worldwide for their contributions in shaping the game that we all know and love.
Community Impact
This has resulted in community benefits, such as the New York Rens Commemorative Basketball Court at Howard Bennett Playground in Harlem and the Black Fives Murals at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. This recognition has been amplified with extensive coverage by major media outlets such as NPR, CBS, and The New York Times, further elevating the legacy of these trailblazing athletes.
Expanding the Legacy of the Black Fives
I founded the Black Fives Foundation to research, preserve, showcase, and teach, and honor this critical era in sports history. We’ve since expanded our focus to include leadership and character development, educational advancement, arts and culture appreciation, and community-based youth programming using innovative technologies as well as traditional means.
We’ve made significant strides in our first eleven years, yet there is still so much more to be done. Sadly, we continue to see efforts to erase or downplay the rich history of African American achievement in this country. The Black Fives Foundation has a crucial role in ensuring that this legacy is not forgotten and that future generations—especially young people—draw inspiration from these incredible stories of facing adversity, overcoming obstacles, building community, and manifesting success.
Looking Ahead: Ambitious Goals for the Foundation
As we look to the future, we have ambitious goals. We want to endow educational scholarships, build our capacity, advance our development efforts, create an annual awards gala, and establish a permanent museum for our archives. Tiffany, Cassius, Kiel, Kevin, and Charles bring an abundance of talent, experience, vision, and passion for our cause that will help us achieve these goals. We look forward to updating you with clear and measurable progress toward those objectives.
I can’t wait to get started working with them as we embark on this exciting new phase together! Meanwhile, please feel free to let me know if you would like to share any feedback, would like to get involved, or would like to become a donor in support of our efforts!
With thanks and best regards,
Claude Johnson
Founder & Executive Director