OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — An Omaha native will be giving back to her community after raising nearly $50,000 for her organization, I Be Black Girl Gives.
"This is just an opportunity to say, we believe in us and we really want to make sure we determine our own future," I Be Black Girl Creator Ashlei Spivey said.
Spivey says she credits much of her success to the black women who have influenced her life.
"I think it's really important to reinvest in the community from which you come from," she said.
So last year, Spivey launched I Be Black Girl.
A community initiative designed for black women, by black women to empower each other, grow and connect.
The Women's Fund of Omaha board voted unanimously to become a fiscal sponsor.
"They also voted to invest in it, really making sure that the Women's Fund is really living our values of equity and inclusion," Women's Fund of Omaha Executive Director Michelle Zych said
After establishing their giving circle, I Be Black Girl Gives, the goal initial goal was to raise about $10,000 to invest in organizations that benefit black women and girls.
Within 6 months months, Spivey says IBBG raised close to $50,000.
"We had a lot of people that were non-black identifying that stepped up and said I'm going to give on behalf of black women that have impacted my life," Spivery said. Or because I know the importance of black women being successful in our community."
Spivey tells us she wants more black women represented in Omaha's philanthropic landscape.
"Everyday black women can now say hey I care about community I want to make a difference in my community, I'm going to do that through my monetary investment and just continue that support," she said.
Malinda Sapp became a member of I Be Black Girl's advisory committee shortly after moving to Omaha.
She says, she hopes to see the organization grow nationally.
"We don't want this to just be an Omaha, Nebraska, thing," Sapp said. We see it growing beyond to I Be Black Girl South and West, and you know all over the U.S. so black women everywhere can have that type of support and that type of circle, and network our influence and our impact."
You can visit, https://www.ibbgomaha.com/ to find out if your organization is eligible for a grant.
I Be Black Girl will host its first networking mixer of the year February 23 at from 2-5 p.m. at the AIM institute.
