2025 Is Almost Here! Help Us Build A Legacy
Join Us On This Journey:
You’ll see from our 2024 updates below that we’ve come a long way even just in the last few months, and unquestionably since organizing as a nonprofit in 2013. The fact that we are in a position to even conceive of the initiatives listed below, is incredible. We could not have gotten here or done this without you. Your generous charitable contributions over the years have made all the difference on this road less traveled.
Now, we’re looking to level up from Black Fives Foundation 1.0, to 2.0 to make a bigger and more meaningful impact. These are our most ambitious plans ever, and you can join us with your help. We’re looking to raise $25,000 to build capacity in advance of our 2025 programming efforts, outlined above. Some might even say they are impossible targets given current events. But big goals require big support. And with your generosity, we can achieve them! Together, we can Make History Now! And, your support for the Black Fives Foundation before the tax year ends qualifies as a tax-deductible charitable donation. Please give today using the button below. Scroll down to read the details about our plans. Thanks so much!
Updates:
Unanimous Resolution
The City of New York’s Manhattan Community Board 10 in Central Harlem has unanimously passed a resolution supporting sidewalk commemoration plans to honor the legendary New York Rens basketball team. “As someone who devoted himself to breaking down barriers through basketball, Uncle Zach would be deeply moved to see Harlem’s community leaders unanimously embrace this recognition of the New York Rens’ legacy,” added Lauren D. Myers, the grand-niece of Zach Clayton, who won the 1939 Pro Basketball World’s Championship title with that team. Details HERE.
BIG EAST Programming Continues
At their recent media day, the BIG EAST Conference announced that the conference and its member schools will continue its educational programming with the Black Fives Foundation for the upcoming 2025 Black History Month and beyond. This will be the fourth season of the partnership. Val Ackerman, BIG EAST Commissioner, made the announcement. “I’m very excited this season’s programming, which aims to be the best ever in terms of reach, community impact, and meaningfulness,” said Black Fives founder Claude Johnson.
Harlem Basketball Court Recap
We are still excited about the basketball court repainting at Howard Bennett Playground in Harlem that commemorates the legendary New York Rens basketball team. The project, funded by SLAM in collaboration with the New York City Parks & Recreation Department, creates a “jewel” in the neighborhood. The ribbon-cutting event itself, sponsored by PUMA and involving students from adjacent PS 197, was epic. “As breakers of backboards and barriers, the New York Rens were pioneers, and it’s an honor to finally commemorate their legacy in Harlem,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. Please be sure to stop by there and be sure to scan the QR code on the commemoration placard.
New Board Members
As mentioned recently, we added five new members to our Board of Directors. This gives us our strongest and most experienced Board to date, and we are excited to get to work.
2025 Plans:
Educational Scholarships
In 2025, we will launch efforts to create educational scholarships for students. We plan also to stage our first annual fundraising gala event with recognition awards and announcements of scholarship grant recipients.
Permanent Black Fives Museum
Also in 2025, we will initiate a long-term effort to establish a permanent Black Fives Museum. Our vision is for this facility to house our historical archives, the world’s largest collection of artifacts from the Black Five Era. These are currently maintained with generous support by our archival services partners, Heritage Werks. In addition, there would be space for archival preservation and conservation, artifact displays, exhibitions, research, educational activities, galleries, community events, presentations, and meeting rooms as well as administrative offices. This effort will begin through your generous support of our Black Fives Legacy Fund.
Harlem Sidewalk Commemoration
As mentioned above, we are planning to commemorate the New York Rens with a Walk Of Fame or similar installation to honor their history. This will take focused coordination among several different city agencies including the Department of Transportation, as well as urban planning and architectural design. This project will be funded by your generous giving to the New York Rens Walk of Fame Project.
Curriculum Development
This coming year we also plan to develop Black Fives educational curriculums for use in elementary, middle-, and high schools. In addition, we’ll work closely to involve the BIG EAST Conference’s member schools and their surrounding communities.
Descendants
For 2025, we plan to do more than ever with descendants of Black Fives Era pioneers, including outreach to connect with families, share their stories, help preserve their legacies for future generations, and build public awareness. We also plan to host special events, panel discussions, and conduct oral histories that bring together descendants as well as historians and the broader basketball community to provide a platform to ensure that the voices of their ancestors are heard.
Make History Now:
We hope you can see from our 2024 updates and overall progress that we’ve come a long way on this journey. The fact that we are in a position to even conceive of the initiatives listed above, is incredible. We could not have gotten here or done this without you. Your generous charitable contributions over the years have made all the difference on this road less traveled.
Now, we want you to continue with us so we can make history together! We’re looking to level up from Black Fives Foundation 1.0, to 2.0 to make a bigger and more meaningful impact. These are our most ambitious plans ever, and you can join us with your help. We’re looking to raise $25,000 to build capacity in advance of our 2025 programming efforts, outlined above. Some might even say they are impossible targets given current events. But big goals require big support. And with your generosity, we can achieve them! Together, we can Make History Now! And, your support for the Black Fives Foundation before the tax year ends qualifies as a tax-deductible charitable donation. Please give today using the button below. Thanks so much!
