Campaign Co-Chair Spotlight: Bill Taylor
About me and my role with the Greater Washington Community Foundation.
When I first came to Washington, D.C., in 1970, I didn’t plan on staying long. Now over 50 years later, it’s safe to say I fell in love with the Greater Washington area. It’s been a wonderful place to raise a family and pursue a career. But there’s no denying that the Greater Washington region has its share of challenges, especially when it comes to racial wealth disparity. I wanted to make a little difference for people in our community who did not start with the same advantages I’ve had.
To pursue that goal, I joined the board of the Greater Washington Community Foundation nearly nine years ago. I’ve been happy to play a role on the Community Foundation’s Development and Marketing committee, support with strategic planning, and I’m now a co-chair for the Together, We Prosper campaign.
Why I’m proud to be a part of the Together, We Prosper Campaign.
The Together, We Prosper campaign, an innovative approach to reducing the racial wealth gap in Greater Washington, will have a dramatic effect on our community’s future. It’s creative, imaginative, and bold. A primary goal of the campaign is to move money directly to individuals and families, because they know how to best address their personal needs.
With sufficient financial resources, people can feel hopeful about their future rather than getting stuck in cycles of poverty. Through Brilliant Futures, we’re ensuring young kids will have access to savings accounts when they’re adults—something we know is more likely to encourage them to enroll in college and graduate.
Guaranteed income initiatives and children’s savings programs are still rare, and I’m proud that The Community Foundation is taking bold steps to help close the racial wealth gap.
The long-term impact of Together, We Prosper.
The money raised from Together, We Prosper goes far beyond helping people meet their basic needs. When people feel financially secure, they have longer life expectancies, they can spend more time with their families, they live happier lives, and they can do more to positively contribute to their communities.
Initiatives like Brilliant Futures will help kids start their adult lives with the ability to choose their path forward instead of making decisions out of hopelessness. These financial resources will positively impact future generations in our community.
Ultimately, it’s very simple. Financial stability helps people reach their full potential and helps to close the racial wealth gap in our community.
The Together, We Prosper campaign relies on generous donors throughout the Greater Washington region. See how your gift can change the lives of your neighbors:
William W. Taylor, III
Together, We Prosper Campaign Co-Chair