The New Mountain Climbers Giving Circle was established in 2005 in Montgomery County, Virginia as an outgrowth of The Community Group to promote African American civic participation. The Giving Circle provides grants to local nonprofit organizations focused on social change, youth, education, literacy, and history/culture. It aims to inspire greater African American philanthropy and leadership within the community.

1. Created by B. Dixon; Photos by A. Morikawa ©2011 NMC GIVING CIRCLE Montgomery County, Virginia Affiliate of THE COMMUNITY GROUP Member of COMMUNITY INVESTMENT NETWORK

2. Collective Investment in the African American Community Who are we? The New Mountain Climbers Giving Circle was established in 2005. It was an outgrowth of The Community Group , an association formed to enhance and advance African American participation in Montgomery County civic development. The Community Group stresses the importance of economic investment in African American organizations and individuals as a crucial step toward assuring full civic participation. Created by B. Dixon; Photos by A. Morikawa ©2011

3. Who are we? The NMC Giving Circle was formed as a result of inspiration and technical assistance from Athan Lindsey and Darryl Lester of HindSights Consulting and founders of NGAAP Giving Circle. The NMC Giving Circle is now a member of the Community Investment Network (CIN) which is made up of twelve Giving Circles. These Giving Circles are located in : Raleigh-Durham, NC (3); Birmingham, AL; Montgomery County VA ; New Orleans, LA; Charlotte, NC, (2); Pittsburgh, PA; Warrenton, NC ; Washington, DC; Atlanta, GA Leveraging SMALL Resources for BIG , Sustainable Community Change Created by B. Dixon; Photos by A. Morikawa ©2011

4. The Goals of the New Mountain Climbers Giving Circle are to:  expand philanthropy and organized collective giving in the African American community through education, giving and leadership;  make investments in predominantly in African-American led non profit and/or community organizations involved in social change goals and activities, including but not limited to youth-focused efforts;  raise awareness of economic, social and cultural disparities within local communities and to generate goals, policies and programs to eliminate them;  sponsor educational forums to increase African American philanthropic efforts and enhance leadership in community-wide civic, social and economic affairs; and,  create a permanent endowment fund to further the mission and goals of NMC. Created by B. Dixon; Photos by A. Morikawa ©2011

5. The New Mountain Climbers seek to inspire within the African American community the will to look within itself to solve problems and create opportunities as opposed to solely relying on outside sources. Created by B. Dixon; Photos by A. Morikawa ©2011

6. Assessing - Planning - Acting - Reflecting Created by B. Dixon; Photos by A. Morikawa ©2011

7. New Mountain Climbers planning session at historic Schaeffer Memorial Baptist Church. Created by B. Dixon; Photos by A. Morikawa ©2011

8. NMC Grants to Non-Profit, Community-Based Organizations New Mountain Climbers President, Penny Franklin, presents grant check for tutorial program to David Moore, President of Christiansburg Community Center . Supported by New Mountain Climbers Giving Circle Grants Program Christiansburg Community Center EDUCATION Created by B. Dixon; Photos by A. Morikawa ©2011

9. From 1866 to 1966, Christiansburg Institute provided education, inspiration, and community for African Americans working to better themselves in the face of adversity. Christiansburg, Virginia Supported by New Mountain Climbers Giving Circle Grants Program EDUCATION Created by B. Dixon; Photos by A. Morikawa ©2011

10. Christiansburg Institute, Christiansburg, Virginia (Over a century ago) Supported by New Mountain Climbers Giving Circle Grants Program Created by B. Dixon; Photos by A. Morikawa ©2011

11. Supported by New Mountain Climbers Giving Circle Grants Program LITERACY HEALTH Created by B. Dixon; Photos by A. Morikawa ©2011 Literacy Volunteers of the New River Valley We provide free confidential tutoring for adults needing to improve literacy skills in one or more of the following areas of instruction: READING WRITING CONVERSATIONAL ENGLISH

12. Supported by New Mountain Climbers Giving Circle Grants Program CHILDREN Created by B. Dixon; Photos by A. Morikawa ©2011

13. St. Luke and Odd Fellows Hall Blacksburg, Virginia The restored hall reflects the importance of New Town as the hub of social activities for the African American community. Supported by New Mountain Climbers Giving Circle Grants Program HISTORY/CULTURE Created by B. Dixon; Photos by A. Morikawa ©2011

14. St. Luke and Odd Fellows Hall , Black History Museum, in Blacksburg's New Town area. New Mountain Climbers funded the purchase of computer used to present information about the museum . NMC hosted book signing of Dr. Wornie Reed at historic St. Luke and Odd Fellows Hall. HISTORY/CULTURE Supported by New Mountain Climbers Giving Circle Grants Program Created by B. Dixon; Photos by A. Morikawa ©2011

15. NMC Recognized and Supported Created by B. Dixon; Photos by A. Morikawa ©2011

16. Penny Franklin, President of New Mountain Climbers, does guest spot on Talk at the Table weekly radio show broadcast on WUVT-FM. Sharing Information on Giving Circles Created by B. Dixon; Photos by A. Morikawa ©2011

17. New Mountain Climbers hosted gatherings of the other Giving Circles in the New River Valley. Sharing Information on Giving Circles Created by B. Dixon; Photos by A. Morikawa ©2011 (Gathering held at Christiansburg Community Center, historic Black community site.) NMC is the FIRST GIVING CIRCLE in New River Valley and Southwest Virginia. Five other Circles have been created in NRV, inspired by the NMC model.

18. Created by B. Dixon; Photos by A. Morikawa ©2011

19. New Mountain Climbers Members of The Community Foundation Ray Plaza , Community Advisor Penny Franklin , Community Advisor Benjamin Dixon , Board and Scholarship Committee Community Engagement Created by B. Dixon; Photos by A. Morikawa ©2011

20. “ Contributed significantly to our administrative operations and enhanced our aspirations by receiving these funds from the descendants of the historic Christiansburg Institute African American Community.” Christiansburg Institute " The New Mountain Climbers giving circle is a true inspiration to the Community Foundation. This African American community group has demonstrated that true development is really transformation. They have gone from being foundation grantees to becoming grant makers with a seat at the table of community philanthropy. Incredible! No other grantee of ours can tell this story.“ New River Valley Foundation “ Supported the Christiansburg Community Center tutorial program offering one–on-one homework assistance to children from kindergarten to twelfth grade.” The Christiansburg Community Center NMC IMPACT on the NRV “ Leveraging small resources for big, sustainable community change” Created by B. Dixon; Photos by A. Morikawa ©2011

21. Thank you!