BCF: ‘Is Philanthropy Up For The Challenge?’
The Bermuda Community Foundation [BCF] has released a new report entitled “Social Equity: Is Philanthropy Up For The Challenge?” which BCF Managing Director Dr. Myra Virgil describes as “a call to action, providing a context for social and race equity in Bermuda and offering guidance on programme investment opportunities for people who want to give.”
A spokesperson said, “Bermuda’s community foundation [BCF] has set up a new social impact fund to support initiatives that tackle inequity by enabling mobility and advancement for the most disadvantaged.
“It’s obviously a massive task but we believe that we need to take some substantive steps towards tackling social inequity in our community; it is essential for Bermuda’s future wellbeing and sustainability,” says Dr Myra Virgil, Managing Director of the BCF.
The new fund is linked to the BCF’s recent publication: Social equity: is philanthropy up for the challenge?
Dr Virgil describes the paper “as a call to action, providing a context for social and race equity in Bermuda and offering guidance on programme investment opportunities for people who want to give.”
The fund itself is a permanent charitable fund with a goal of reaching $5 million to support annual disbursements in perpetuity.
“Building an endowment fund addresses the enduring and pervasive nature of this issue, which is deeply rooted in our community,” she said.
“Successfully addressing lack of equity, access, mobility and inclusion will be a long haul. It is entirely in keeping with the work of the community foundation: social issue research, fund and grants management for the long term.
“When the pandemic hit our shores, shelter-in-place and other protective requirements to help make us safe were put into effect. But the pandemic revealed more than health risks: it revealed deep gaps in the social safety net.”
“The BCF takes the position that “this issue must not be political.”
“As a small community with limited resources, there is no benefit in making educational success, literacy or good citizenship, political footballs,” noted Dr Virgil. “Instead, the BCF publication poses the question “is philanthropy up for the challenge?”
“Anyone wishing to donate to the Social Equity Fund can do so by going to www.bcf.bm – Give Now, complete the form and select Social Equity – Diversity, Access & Inclusion.”
The full report follows below [PDF here]
Ok I will donate commensurate with what our PLP leaders put up. Now go sing that from the mountain