Politics

Funds Flowing to My Brother’s Keeper After First Year

Published

11 years ago

March 6, 2015

In this Feb. 27, 2015, photo,. President Barack Obama hosts a lunch with “My Brother’s Keeper” mentees in the Map Room of the White House in Washington. Even more money than expected has been committed to Obama’s initiative aimed at helping young men of color, White House officials said Thursday, March 5. One year after the program began, more than $300 million in grants and in-kind resources have been independently committed to Obama’s My Brothers Keeper initiative, said Broderick Johnson, chair of the My Brothers Keeper task force. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

JESSE J. HOLLAND, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — More money than expected has been committed to President Barack Obama’s initiative aimed at helping young men of color, White House officals said Thursday.

One year after the program began, more than $300 million in grants and in-kind resources have been independently committed to Obama’s “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative, said Broderick Johnson, chair of the My Brother’s Keeper task force.

The original foundations and private groups who allied with the My Brother’s Keeper program back in February 2014 had pledged $200 million, with the additional money coming from newer allies like AT&T and the National Basketball Association.

Under the initiative, businesses, foundations and community groups coordinate investments to come up with or support programs that help young men of color. Administration officials say nearly 200 mayors, tribal leaders and county executives across 43 states and the District of Columbia are participating in My Brother’s Keeper programs.

Obama, who kicked off the program in February 2014, plans to talk about some of the program’s achievements on Friday while in Columbia, South Carolina, one of the first cities to adopt the initiative.

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Online:

White House My Brother’s Keeper One Year Report: http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/mbk_progress_report_0.pdf