A new type of gentrification: Melody Rollins makes a difference in Harlem.[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MELODY ROLLINS IS NO STRANGER TO success. Soon after graduating with an M.B.A. from MIT's Sloan School of Business in 2001, she landed a job in New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. as an account manager and investment strategy firm, making $150,000. When she was promoted to senior vice president in 2006, her salary increased to more than $500,000 a year. Rollins lives on 20% of her income annually and saves and invests the rest in mutual funds and stocks, but more importantly, she donates 15% to nonprofit organizations Nonprofit Organization An association that is given tax-free status. Donations to a non-profit organization are often tax deductible as well. Notes: Examples of non-profit organizations are charities, hospitals and schools. in her Harlem community. "When I relocated to PIMCO's New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of office in 2002 from California, I knew I wanted to live in a black community and help kids with their career and life choices," says Rollins, 35, who grew up in a lower-middle-class family outside of San Francisco San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden . "Plus, I didn't want to be one of the many who move to Harlem only to take advantage of relatively less expensive real estate while ignoring the existing community," adds Rollins, referring to the ongoing gentrification gentrification, the rehabilitation and settlement of decaying urban areas by middle- and high-income people. Beginning in the 1970s and 80s, higher-income professionals, drawn by low-cost housing and easier access to downtown business areas, renovated deteriorating of Harlem, famously marked by former President Bill Clinton setting up an office on 125th street in 2001. Soon after moving to Harlem in 2005, Rollins began looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. an organization within the community where she could donate her time and money. Her search led her to Future Leaders Future Leaders is a UK schools-led charitable organisation that aims to widen the pool of talented leaders especially for urban challenging secondary schools. It was founded in March 2006 by Nat Wei, a former founder of Teach First. Institute Charter School. Founded in 1999, Future Leaders Institute welcomes 300 kindergarten through eighth-grade students. Almost every eighth-grader goes on to boarding school, private school, or a selective top-tier public high school in New York City. That's a pretty good track record but not a total surprise to Rollins, who immediately recognized the school's potential when she was searching for volunteer opportunities. "Their passion and vision for the students made the difference for me," says Rollins. In addition to being the first African American African American Multiculture A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. See Race. member of the school's board, Rollins is co-chair of the development committee, founder of the school's leadership council, and a member of its grievance committee, which gives her a chance to hear f from parents. "I think seeing a face like theirs represented puts them at ease," says Rollins, pointing out that about 97% of the students are black. Rollins has learned that parents are in need of just as much support as the students. Last year, when an eighth-grader was accepted to a competitive New England New England, name applied to the region comprising six states of the NE United States—Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. The region is thought to have been so named by Capt. boarding school, one of the high school placement officers spent three months trying to convince the child's mother to let the student attend. When Rollins discovered the reason for her hesitation, she was moved. "The mother said, 'He'll think he's better than us,'" recalls Rollins, but she eventually granted permission. This was a challenging experience that made Rollins aware of nonacademic hurdles in the high school admissions process. She responded by proposing a $176,200 high school placement fund so that the school could hire additional staff to help parents and students navigate the admissions process. "As a business-minded person, I want to make my money work well," says Rollins. "I give based on what moves me." Rollins has written checks totaling more than $25,000 for the school's operating budget Noun 1. operating budget - a budget for current expenses as distinct from financial transactions or permanent improvements budget items, operating cost, operating expense, overhead - the expense of maintaining property (e.g. . In addition, she commissioned a friend to create three abstract paintings that were auctioned off at her 34th birthday party. As a result, she raised $3,000 for the school. Rollins is also on the board of Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, a nonprofit public law office committed to improving legal representation for those unable to afford an attorney. Last year, she gave $5,000 and raised more than $10,000 by hosting a barbecue at her home to celebrate the organization's 15th anniversary with the theme "Give $15 for 15." Rollins invited her employer to get involved as well. Last year, Future Leaders Institute and Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem each received $10,000 in program grants from the PIMCO PIMCO Pacific Investment Management Company Foundation, a nonprofit charitable organization This article is about charitable organizations. For other uses of the word charity, see Charity. A charitable organization (also known as a charity) is an organization with charitable purposes only. founded in 2000. And in 2005, Rollins nominated the Harlem Children's Zone charter school for a $10,000 employee choice award from the PIMCO Foundation, which it won. The annual financial contributions Rollins makes outside of Harlem include $5,000 to Oakland, California-based Robert Toigo Foundation, an M.B.A. fellowship program for minorities pursing a career in finance. She also donates $1,500 to Sponsors for Educational Opportunity scholars program, which helps disadvantaged New York City high school students attend college. Because of Rollins' commitment to support her community and create a financial legacy for those who come after her, she exemplifies BLACK ENTERPRISE'S Declaration of Financial Empowerment Principle No. 10. Declaration Financial Empowerment From this day forward. I declare my vigilant and lifelong commitment to financial ernpowerment and hereby pledge the following: 1 will use homeownership as a foundation for building wealth. 2 I will be proactive in managing my budget, credit, debt, and tax obligations. 3 I will maximize my earnings potential, live within my means, and commit to saving and investing at least 10% of my income. 4 I will ensure that my investments are properly diversified and correspond to my current financial goals. 5 I will immediately commit to a program of retirement planning Retirement financial planning refers to a collection of systems, methods, and processes which, in their aggregate, support a family unit's (client's) desire to achieve a state of financial independence, such that the need to be gainfully employed is optional. and investing. 6 I will preserve and protect my assets through proper financial and insurance planning. 7 I will ensure that my children receive a thorough education on financial and business matters. 8 I will ensure that my wealth is passed on to future generations through proper estate planning Estate Planning The overall planning of a person's wealth, including the preparation of a will and the planning of taxes after the individual's death. Notes: Contrary to popular belief, estate planning involves much more than preparing a will, and it is not only for the . 9 I will actively support the creation and growth of viable, competitive black-owned enterprises. 10 I will use a portion of my wealth to strengthen my community. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Rollins Advice: Don't go It alone. Consider asking your employer to assist you with your philanthropic efforts. Rollins wrote four proposals before her employer wrote the first check. Also, talk to your human resources The fancy word for "people." The human resources department within an organization, years ago known as the "personnel department," manages the administrative aspects of the employees. representative to find out if your company offers matching contributions or community awards. Network. "I've recruited friends to serve on the Future Leaders Insitute board with me," says Rollins. If you're interested in serving on a nonprofit organization's board of directors, consult BoardNet USA (www.boardnetusa.com) to find the right match. Understand the system. Melody's company sponsored her to participate in Coro (www.coro.org), a civic leadership program that explains how the government, nonprofit, and for-profit sectors in New York City intersect, Research. Do the necessary research to ensure that the organizations you give to are making good use of your money, Begin your search at Charity Navigator Charity Navigator is an independent, non-profit organization that evaluates American charities. Their stated goal is "to advance a more efficient and responsive philanthropic marketplace by evaluating the financial health of America's largest charities. (www.charitynavigator.org) and Guidestar (www.guidestar.org). 6uidestar allows you to view a charity's IRS An abbreviation for the Internal Revenue Service, a federal agency charged with the responsibility of administering and enforcing internal revenue laws. form 990, which gives a breakdown of how donations are used. Also, sign up for a workshop at The National Center for Black Philanthropy (www.ncfbp.net). |
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