ABFE Announces Inaugural Class of Connecting Leaders Fellows; 10 Emerging Leaders from Across Philanthropy Selected For Year-Long Fellowship In Profes

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Untitled Document: "ABFE Announces Inaugural Class of Connecting Leaders Fellows; 10 Emerging Leaders from Across Philanthropy Selected For Year-Long Fellowship In Professional Development

NEW YORK,Oct. 7 (AScribe Newswire) -- The Association of Black Foundation Executives (ABFE) recently announced the names of ten fellows who will participate in the 2005-2006 Connecting Leaders Fellowship Program. This fellowship is the cornerstone of ABFE's multi-year initiative to develop the next generation of leaders in philanthropy and to significantly increase philanthropic resources that are targeted to meet the challenges of Black communities.

'Our membership felt it was imperative to take the lead in promoting the professional development of people likely to have both personal and occupational interests in the well-being of Black communities,' said Tim Russell, a senior manager at Sara Lee Corporation in Chicago and chair of ABFE's Board of Directors. 'As part of our strategic plan, we recognize that in order to get more philanthropic leaders to understand their role in advancing Black communities, there has to be more development and more training and in return we expect more philanthropic resources directed towards improving Black communities.'"