Special Giving Black Conference 2024 Edition: The Reason Why There's Joy on My Face Artwork

Giving Black Podcast

The Giving Black Podcast is the world’s first podcast dedicated to Black philanthropy and all things related to generosity in the global Black community. Listen to interviews that honour the culture and tradition of giving among Black people from the African continent, to the Caribbean, Europe, the Americas and across the globe.I am your host, Olumide Akerewusi. Here's a bit about me: I am Founder and CEO of AgentsC Inc., an international company delivering philanthropy solutions to the non-profit and private sector. I've spent almost 30 years working with major philanthropists, corporations, and grant-making foundations as well as charities and NGOs from across the world. I am a Black philanthropist, I am an African born and raised in the UK, and now living in Canada. My perspectives are uniquely diverse and frequently thought provoking. I'm an advocate of Equity Philanthropy and passionate about social impact. I am a proud father, husband, son, brother, nephew, and friend!I hope you enjoy this podcast, which will serve as an archive of wonderful and inspiring stories about black generosity.

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Giving Black Podcast

Special Giving Black Conference 2024 Edition: The Reason Why There's Joy on My Face

July 28, 2024 • Olumide Akerewusi • Episode 1

Welcome Back, Giving Black Family!

In this special Emancipation Day and Black Philanthropy Month edition of The Giving Black Podcast, I interview my friend, brother and mentor, Ray Williams. I have known Ray for as long as I have lived in Canada (16 years). We speak about the recipe for success of the Black Opportunity Fund (BOF), the organization that Ray co-founded and currently chairs. BOF is a social innovation established to increase the flows of revenue into Black-led, Black-serving, and Black-focused (B3) organizations.

Our conversation returns to a single theme, food as philanthropy. Ray and I bond over our love of food and our introduction to generosity being the dinner table of four friends and their families. Interestingly, our shared roots in South London, form the drivers of his personal approach to philanthropy: food, compassion, and kindness. Whether it's Ray's love for cooking, his connection to George Brown College, where he serves on the board and has earned his culinary arts certificate; Ray elaborates on how food can also open the door to our generosity. Today, Ray is a fundraiser and donor to the Culinary Arts Program at George Brown College.

We talk about ways to drive more funds in to B3 organizations and support philanthropic participation in Black communities, as well as our families "back home", and our religious faith-based organizations.

Ray recently retired as a financial services executive after more than 35 years of experience in Global Capital Markets, during which time he held leadership roles in marketing, trading, risk advisory & execution as well as securitization. Ray is also an Executive-in-Residence at Rotman School of Management and is on the board of the 100 Strong Foundation, where he and I both serve.

Ray's energy and passion for community comes through loud and clear in this Special Episode. We close our conversation with the declaration that we need to build and support more Black entrepreneurs for Black philanthropy to grow.

I hope you enjoy listening to this Special Edition podcast. I especially hope you feel the joy in the conversation between Ray and me. I love Ray's reflection that there's is a reason why there is joy on his face. Philanthropy has the power to make us happy! Click here to learn more about Ray and The Black Opportunity Fund, 100 Strong Foundation, and George Brown College