Black Corporate Board Readiness Gala
September 27, 2024
6 - 10 pm PT
Join the Movement!
Founded by Dr. Thane Kreiner and Dennis Lanham, the BCBR program emerged from a shared vision of justice, equity, and collective action. From its inception, BCBR was imagined as a community-driven initiative overseen by a Program Advisory Board (PAB), including renowned figures like Barry Lawson Williams, who has served on numerous public company boards and spearheaded projects to document the lived experiences of Black corporate directors.
The BCBR Gala will be held on September 27, 2024, to honor Barry Lawson Williams, his commitment to advancing diversity in the boardroom, and his research that will shape our understanding of corporate governance for the future. Join what has become a movement. With each endowment pledge made, we advance the cause of inclusion and belonging in corporate boardrooms.
Reserve your spot today and be part of history in the making at the BCBR Gala.
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Attend the BCBR Gala
September 27, 2024 6:00 - 10:00 pm PT, Locatelli Center
Registration for this event is now closed. Please contact Toni Santillan at tsantillan@scu.edu to be placed on our waitlist.
BLACK CORPORATE BOARD READINESS (BCBR) GALA PAYMENTS
Thank you for making a donation to support the BCBR Inaugural Gala on September 27, 2024!
Payment Instructions
Below are a few ways you can pay for your gala table or sponsorship:
Pay online
You can go online and purchase tickets, tables or sponsorships on the BCBR gala website.
Pay by check
Please make your check payable to Santa Clara University and send to:
Santa Clara University
Development Office
500 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA 95053
Please make sure to write on the check that your donation is for the BCBR Gala
Pay by wire
Please contact Allison Wong, Operations Manager of Principal Gifts and Corporate &
Foundation Relations for wire instructions at awong8@scu.edu
Note About Donor Advised Funds
Please note that gala payments cannot be paid with Donor Advised Funds due to IRS
regulations as the gala payments have a Fair Market Value portion, which is not tax deductible.
Questions?
Please contact Allison Wong at awong8@scu.edu and she will be happy to assist you. If you are
a corporation or foundation that wishes to purchase a gala sponsorship, please reach out to
Allison as well.
BCBR Impact
The primary outcome metric of the BCBR program is placement on private and public boards. After three short years, the BCBR Community celebrates over 150 board seats that are currently occupied by BCBR Alumni members. We are honored to partner with over 20 organizations committed to accelerating inclusion in corporate governance and enhancing business performance.
From its genesis, BCBR was envisioned as a community-based program. It now comprises over 350 individuals who facilitate, mentor, and advise participants. The BCBR community includes thought leaders and innovators across various industries.
At BCBR, connectivity is key to closing the network gap for Black executives seeking board opportunities. Through the engagement and generosity of our Sponsors and Donors, BCBR Alumni, Facilitators, Mentors, and Advisors gather both virtually and in-person, fostering connections within the BCBR community.
Listen to Rod Cotton Talk About the Purpose of Our BCBR Gala
BCBR Endowment
Cohort 3 established the Barry Lawson Williams Endowed BCBR Program Fund in 2021, kick-started by over $115,000 in designated gifts.
The goal: to raise a $10 million endowment to support accompaniment of the BCBR community in perpetuity.
BCBR Endowment proceeds will enable: continued curation of customized lists of potential board candidates for any opportunity, obliterating the myth of a lack of qualified Black talent; in-person and virtual networking events among BCBR community members; and continuing education opportunities to ensure Black excellence in corporate boardrooms.
BLACK CORPORATE BOARD READINESS (BCBR)
DONOR ADVISED FUND (DAF) PAYMENTS
Thank you for making a donation to support the BCBR Endowment Fund.
Payment Instructions
If you have already benefited from the immediate tax deductions offered by donor-advised
funds (DAFs), you should know that Santa Clara University is an IRS-qualified public charity, and
therefore eligible to receive contributions from your gift fund. Please follow the instructions
provided by your fund regarding minimum contribution, the process for recommending grants,
etc.
When you submit a grant recommendation from your DAF, please make sure to note that this
donation is for the BCBR Endowment.
Santa Clara University’s tax ID number is: 94-1156617.
If you choose to send a check via your DAF, please make checks payable to Santa Clara
University and mail to the following address:
Santa Clara University
Development Office
500 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA 95053-1400
Note About Donor Advised Funds
Donors cannot use a donor-advised fund (DAF) to directly fulfill their pledges, purchase tickets,
or receive any benefit.
Questions?
Please contact Allison Wong at awong8@scu.edu and she will be happy to assist you.
Sponsors
Gala Planning Committee
Committee Co-Chair
Caretha Coleman
Board Chair, Adviser, Principal
Committee Co-Chair
Rod Cotton
Board Member, Advisor, Biotech Executive, Former SVP Roche, Orchard Software, Roche, Community Health
Cohort 2
Wanda Cole-Frieman
SVP of Talent Acquisition at CommonSpirit Health
Cohort 7
Nathan Cox
President/CEO at InRoads Credit Union
Cohort 7
Andre V. Chapman
President & CEO Fostering Promise
Cohort 4
Wendy-Kay Logan
Director and Head of Business Strategy - Search Ads, Google
Cohort 4
Anita Lynch
Chief Data Officer, New Relic
Cohort 5
Selika Josiah Talbott
Founder/CEO, Autonomous Vehicle Consulting, LLC
Cohort 8
Sharawn Denise Tipton
Chief People and Culture Officer at LiveRamp
Cohort 10
Eric Shaw
Director at SF Mayors Office of Housing and Community Development
Cohort 6
Sherie Hickman
CEO at Sutter Health
Cohort 3
Deidra Jackson
Senior Advisor, FTI Consulting
Cohort 9
Denise Reese
Founder & CEO at The Grace Collection
Cohort 10
Michelle Rider
Chief Marketing Officer at Marvin Behavioral Health
Barry's 100 Black Voices Video Archive Project
A video collection of interviews covering the public company corporate board experiences of 100 leading Black directors.
Contact US
If you would like more information about Gala Sponsorship to support the BCBR Program, email us at: bcbr@scu.edu
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