“The Prosperity Foundation to Join NASIM Conference”

By Shahid Abdul-Karim

Washington D.C. – The Prosperity Foundation (TPF) founder Howard K. Hill will lead a discussion on the role of black philanthropy during the NASIM Conference next month in Capital Heights, Maryland.

The conference will take place April 8 -10, at the Hampton Conference Center, 207 West Hampton Place, Capital Heights, Maryland. Register for the conference at www.nationsmosque.org.

TPF is the Connecticut’s first black organized philanthropic foundation which focuses on critical areas such as health, economic development and education.  

“We are excited to have The Prosperity Foundation join us. The conference is focused on our business interest and one of the things that concern us is economic development,” said Nation’s Mosque leader Imam Talib Shareef. 

Shareef said he learned about the foundation through its grant-giving initiative earlier this month.

“We see them as being the leading black foundation in terms of its efforts,” Shareef said. 

The foundation’s presentation, according to Shareef, “will be informational and a motivating piece for our community,” he said.

In 2010, a partnership was established by Hill and an advisory committee with the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven to create the Urban Prosperity Fund, to promote philanthropy, prosperity and self-empowerment in the black community. TPF became an outgrowth from that fund and was established last year, according to the organization’s website www.tpfct.org.

“This is an exciting opportunity to be able to link up with the Nation’s Mosque and the Muslim business community, particularly around economic development,” said Hill, 47, of Howard K. Hill Funeral Services who has locations throughout the state of Connecticut.  

“Our philanthropy has a mission – to promote economic development in communities that are typically over looked,” he said.  “Our foundation is about making permanent change and we feel we’ll be successful where we’re with people who have an interest in making change such as the community like The Nation’s Mosque.”

Shareef said the foundation’s mission fits right in line with the do for self-concept.  He said it’s rare to see a black organization helping other African-Americans.   

Earlier this month TPF fulfilled part of its philanthropic commitment, contributing over $20,000 in grants to 11 various organizations in the state during an educational event on the role of philanthropy at the Marriott Downtown in Hartford, Connecticut.

“The idea of an endowment or source of income in perpetuity sounded very appealing to me, said Hill, who is in his second term as president of the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association.  

“As I sat on the board of the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, I saw how the impact of philanthropy would be able to help the black community sustain itself,” he said.

Hill sat of the board for seven years.

The event marked the foundation’s inaugural Small Grant Initiative’s effort to help create long-term sustainability for organizations and educate blacks on the role of philanthropy.

Other scheduled presenters for the conference include, a representative from the World Trade Center, WeBuyBlack.com owner Shareef Abdul-Malik, Wallace Mohammad II among others.

In addition to building the foundation’s coffers, Hill said TPF will target resources in a manner that will create wealth and generate more opportunities to benefit black people.

To start an endowment with the foundation one may gift $5,000 or build up to the $5,000 over a period of time. If individuals choose not to start an endowment, the foundation accepts contributions at all levels.

Other TPF board members include, Yves Joseph, Larry Conaway, Nancy Hill, Carolyn Vermont, Rolan Joni Young Smith and the Rev. Dr. Eric B. Smith.  

For more information, visit www.tpfct.org or email info@tpfct.org.