Chick-fil-A, Inc. Awards $350,000 to Club Run by At-Risk Youth

Chick-fil-A, Inc. – through its Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Awards grant program – says it awarded $6 million to nonprofits. The grants ranged from $30,000 to $350,ooo and went to 56 organizations. The S. Truett Cathy Honoree — a grant named for the company’s founder and dedicated to an entrepreneurial and innovative endeavors — is Old Skook Cafe, which received the $350,000. Run by at-risk youth, OSC is a nonprofit supper club offering a global soul food menu in a 1920s-inspired setting – complete with live jazz music.

“The leadership development, mentorship and hospitality job training that Old Skool Cafe provides to at-risk youth in San Francisco creates unparalleled opportunities for economic mobility,” said Susanna Choe, local Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A Serramonte in Daly City, Calif., who nominated the Bay Area nonprofit from her community for a grant. “This generous grant from Chick-fil-A will help Old Skool Cafe continue to transform the lives of underserved young people in the Bay Area for years to come.”

Cathleen Richardson to Lead New Non-Profit

Cathleen Richardson has been appointed president and executive director of the nonprofit arm of Ponix, a farming solutions company. Richardson will help launch the nonprofit and oversee its business operations, fundraising and strategic growth for farmer and education programs and fostering partnerships to strengthen local food production and economic resilience for urban and rural communities.

Richardson has nearly 30 years of experience in educational technology. She worked on Apple’s Racial Equity – where she forged key partnerships to promote inclusive, technology-enhanced learning for underserved communities. Through a $25 million contribution from Apple, Richardson helped launch and lead the PROPEL Center, a first-of-its-kind innovation hub dedicated to advancing Black talent within the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) ecosystem through transformative programs and workforce development.

“Cathleen Richardson’s experience in developing tech-driven educational programs for innovative companies like Apple showcases her unique ability to merge technology with social advocacy—a perfect fit for Ponix’s mission,” said Michael Choi, CEO of Ponix. “Her expertise in cultivating strategic partnerships and championing equitable solutions will propel our initiatives forward, helping us transform sustainable urban agriculture and strengthen communities.”

Richardson received a Bachelor of Arts in mass media arts from Clark Atlanta University and a Master of Arts in instructional technology from Troy State University. She is an active member and dedicated fundraiser for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and is a member of the Nu Lambda Omega chapter. Richardson has been recognized as a national honoree for the National Coalition of 100 Black Women of America and also serves on the board of the Women of Color Education Collaborative and the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame.

“I am extremely excited to join Ponix to build stronger, more resilient communities while advancing the organization’s vision of inclusive, sustainable agriculture,” said Richardson. “My approach will focus on leveraging the power of innovation, collaboration, and education to empower individuals and communities to grow fresh, sustainable food and drive long-term impact.”

Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia Hosts Black Tie Affair

Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia held it’s Black Tie Gala at the Westin. The annual affair is to help the foundation provide direct services to the sickle cell community. This year, the event focused on its “sickle cell warriors,” defined as people living with sickle cell disease. The Diamond Sponsor was Pfizer.