User:Adjoajo/kermit

Dr. Kermit Eady was a social worker, educator, motivational speaker, activist, and the founder of The Black United Fund of New York.

Early years
Kermit was born in Saint Stephen, South Carolina. He was the youngest of nine children. He attended Saint Stephen's public school system. His family moved to Jamaica Queens, New York City., where he attended John Adams High School. After graduation from High school Kermit attended Morgan State Universe in Baltimore, Maryland. He earned a Master's degree in Social work from New York University.

When his family moved to Jamaica, Queens, New York City his family attended Saint Mark A.M.E. Church in East Elmhurst, Queens.

Career
Eady started the Black United Fund with $8,000 in capital. He was the leader of the Black United Fund from 1989 to 1991. The Black United Fund (BUFNY) grew to have $100 million dollars in assets. BUFNY under Eady's leadership was able to gain participation in payroll deduction systems with corporations and and payroll deduction systems with City, State, County, and Federal agencies in New York State. BUFNY was the first-Black-owned employee payroll deduction program which catered to African-Americans. Eady received a B.A. degree from Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. He received a Master's degree in social work from New York University.

Eady worked for fifteen years as a social worker and educator. He was an Assistant Professor at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, NY. He also served as Director of Admissions and Recruitment for Norfolk State University Graduate School of Social Work.

In 1979, Eady and Larry Barton founded the Black United Fund of New York (BUFNY). Eady became the CEO and Larry Barton was the vice president. A non-profit organization in Harlem, New York City. A non-profit organization for African American and minority communities to development self help, empowerment, development and financial resources. BUFNY was able to attain workplace charitable solicitation through participation in corporate payroll deduction systems. The Black United Fund of New York with initially $8,000 that grew into hundreds of of millions of dollars in 20 years. The nonprofit BUFNY of NY developed more than 400 affordable housing in Harlem. BUFNY purchased a radio station that broadcasted the BUFNY produced show "The Empowerment Hour." It was hosted by Kermit Eady. In 2015 he received an Honorary Doctor of Law degree from Morgan State his Alma Mater.

Charitable Contributors
The Black United Fund of New York was able to participate in the Combined Federal Campaign. The (CFC) is a workplace giving program by the United States Federal government program. It was authorized by President Ronald Reagan in March 23, 1982. The (CFC)'s objective is "to lessen the burdens of government and of local communities in meeting needs of human health and welfare ..."

BUFNY was able to get contributions from black businesses such as; Freedom National Bank, Bell Laboratories, I.B.M. New York Telephone Company. BUFNY along with a few other minority-group charities to solicit Federal employees.

Controversy
In 2002 Eliot Spitzer started an investigation of BUFNY. At the time Eliot Spitzer was the Attorney General of New York State. His claim was that BUFNY as a charity had shifted its focus into housing and land development. And that they did not notify its donors. In an article written in Our Times Press a Brooklyn, NY newspaper it states that the charge that the donors were not notified was untrue.

During the 1990s, Eady publicly notified his donors of BUFNY's initiatives, and the donors approved. Eady regularly appeared on WLIB radio on the Gary Byrd's radio program making announcements about BUFNY updates. .