Board Members
Started in 1977 as a group of concerned African American parents for education, the Howard County Foundation for Black Educational and Cultural Achievement (HCFBECA), Inc.'s primary purpose is to provide scholarship support to African American students of Howard County, Maryland, for post-secondary education and training. Since inception, we have awarded more than 900 Black Students over $1,000,000 in college scholarships and book awards.
Solicitation of minimum pledges of $52 per year from families, individuals and organizations has been the major strategy to raise scholarship funds.
The Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, operates on a fiscal year, July 1 - June 30th.
Our scholarship awards program is always the third Sunday in May.
We are seeking individuals to join our Board. We need members with expertise in the following areas: willingness to help others, finance, money management, computer and formatting skills, fundraising, and organizationaldevelopment.
As a Board member, you will represent our mission in the community. Please ask any Board member for an application.
We meet from October through June, the 1st Saturday of the month. You must attend a minimum of 5 meetings to remain in good standings.
We are an all volunteer board. No member is salaried or paid for their work.
Officers
Stephanie Munn, President
Shafonya Turner M.D, Vice President
Lisa Spear Ethridge, Esq. Secretary
Ronald Britt, Treasurer
Mae Beale, Co-Parliamentarian
Rev. Sadie Woolford, Chaplain & Co-Parliamentarian
Chairpersons of Standing Committees
Mavis P. Lewis: Historian
Rose Waters: Co-Scholarship
Carnell Williams: Co-Scholarship
James Harrison: Publicity
James Harrison:Technology
Nicole Brown: Sunshine
Frances Henderson: Logistics
Janice Lopez, Pharm D: Program
General Members
Emerald Adeyemi
Dorothea Baity, Emeritus
Jerryl Bethea
Ruth Craigen, Emeritus
Linda Dorsey
Alice Frazier, Emeritus
Darrah Hall
Yvonne Harrison
Doug Handy
Hugo Jackson
Vickie Manning
Joe Mason
Dionne Vauls Rogers
Jean Somerville, Emeritus
Rosalind Thompson, Emeritus
Elwood Thornton, III
Patricia Watkins
Herbert West, PhD
Albertha Workman, Emeritus
BOARD PRESIDENT'S
ANNUAL REPORT
2025
MISSION STATEMENT
The Howard County Foundation for Black Educational and Cultural Achievement, Inc. hereafter referred to as “The Foundation” is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization that is administered by a volunteer Board of Directors, who are dedicated to raising scholarship funds for African-American students who reside in Howard County and plan to pursue post-secondary education and/or training.
OBJECTIVES:
The Foundation is a grassroots organization that has dedicated itself for the past 45 years to awarding scholarships to African American students graduating from Howard County Schools.
Understanding the critical importance of education, support and access to resources, we are unwavering in our commitment to assisting students in our community by:
1. Awarding scholarships to high school graduates who plan to pursue post-secondary studies.
2. Providing opportunities for student to be exposed to positive cultural experiences by sponsoring events that are centered on the rich African-American culture.
ANNUAL RETREAT:
Every year on the first Saturday of October, we gather for our annual retreat which is dedicated to planning, preparing and organizing for the forthcoming scholarship year.
The Board is structured into committees, and each chaired by a dedicated individual.
During the Retreat, committee members along with their Chairs present their plans for the year.
We meet monthly, working through the finite details as the year unfolds, culminating in the event you will witness here today.
SOURCES OF SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS
The primary source of our funding for the scholarships given comes from the community, which includes individuals, families, churches, organizations, sororities, and fraternities, etc.
If you so choose, you too can participate with a commitment of $1.00 per week, that is $52.00 per year to impact a life.
One hundred percent (100%) of the funds collected and designated for scholarships are distributed in that year.
OPERATIONAL FUNDS
In the past, we have received grants for operational funds. It takes about $6,000 a year to run the Foundation. We are in need of operating funds, because every penny raised goes to scholarships. We have no paid staff. We continue to seek grants and do fundraisers to help with this endeavor.
Last year, we changed the by-laws and each Board member is required to
pay $125 towards operational expenses.
Running the Foundation requires a variety of expenses to ensure its effectiveness, which is categorized into these key areas, but not limited to:
Printing and mailing campaign letters
Printing program books
P.O. Box Rental
Bulk Rate Fees
Insurance
Rental space for the awards program
Storage Facility Fees (This storage facility houses over 40 years of historical records).
Rental Fee for the Black History Fair
Today's Awards Program refreshments are provided by Wegmans.
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
In February 2025, we participated in the Black History Expo at Long Reach High School.
Participation in events provides ongoing exposure of the Foundation to the community and works to continue our legacy in Howard County.
We recognize the vital role that community plays in supporting one another.
Last year, instead of exchanging gifts during the holiday season, we decided to contribute to a community gift fund. Our collective efforts helped to facilitate the $100 Million Drive for the Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center.
BOARD MEMBERSHIP
We are seeking individuals to join our Board. We need members with expertise in the following areas: finance, money management, computer and formatting skills, fundraising, and organizationaldevelopment.
As a Board member, you will represent our mission in the community. Please ask any Board member for an application.
This concludes our Annual Report for the 2024-2025 scholarship year.
Stephanie Munn
Board President