ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI – Kwame Foundation, a non-profit charitable organization providing mentoring and scholarship opportunities for youth in underprivileged communities, has appointed Yolonda Lankford of St. Louis as executive director.Kwame Foundation will break the $1 million mark in fundraising this year with its 11th annual Kwame Foundation Golf Tournament. The foundation endows $150,000 a year in scholarships and grants at colleges and universities that improve educational opportunities for minorities.

Prior to joining Kwame Foundation, Lankford developed and implemented strategic operational plans for organizations including the St. Louis Cardinals’ Cardinal Care and the Antwan Moore Memorial Scholarship fund. She has served on the Herbert Hoover’s Boys and Girls Club Board of Directors, was chairperson for the St. Louis children’s charity 2000 Feet, Inc., and was media spokesperson for Mid America Transplant Services. St. Louis Magazine voted Lankford one of Missouri’s Most Magnetic People.

Lankford earned a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration from Grambling State University in Louisiana. Prior to moving to Saint Louis, she was the director of high school relations for Heald College in Stockton, CA and the campus director for Humphreys College in Modesto, CA.

Kwame Foundation funds scholarships and endowments at these colleges and universities:
• Barnes-Jewish Hospital College of Nursing
• Fontbonne University School of Journalism
• Harris-Stowe State University School of Business
• Interdenominational Theological Center
• Jackson State University
• Maryville University School of Education
• Morehouse School of Medicine
• Ranken Technical College
• St. Louis Community College
• Saint Louis University College of Arts and Sciences
• Saint Louis Zoo
• Tryone Thompson Institute for Nonviolence
• University of Kansas School of Architecture
• University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law
• University of Missouri-St. Louis
• Washington University School of Engineering
• Washington University School of Medicine
• Webster University School of Business & Technology

Kwame Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization founded by Kim and Anthony (Tony) Thompson to develop a doorway of opportunity into the professional world for youth in underprivileged communities, through mentoring programs and scholarship opportunities. Tony Thompson is CEO and Chairman of the Board of Kwame Building Group, Inc. (KWAME), a construction management/program management firm that serves as an independent agent to the owner. For more information on Kwame Foundation, visit www.kwamefoundation.org or call 314.862.5344

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Source: Kwame Building Group – News