TAWANI Foundation and its founder, Colonel (IL) Jennifer N. Pritzker, IL ARNG (Retired), announced a challenge grant that will match private cash donations of up to $300,000 made to Partnerships for Change (PFC), a social impact non-profit organization dedicated to supporting underserved communities with global humanitarian efforts. The grant will support the documentary “Sharecropper to Surgeon General,” a look at the life of Dr. Joycelyn Elders.
A teaser of the film premiered at Philander Smith University in Little Rock, AR, in December 2021. PFC is raising funds for additional post-production, film editing, marketing, and film distribution. The challenge grant period opened on April 1, 2024, and will close on March 31, 2027.
One way PFC executes its mission is by raising awareness about humanitarian issues and highlighting stories of social impact trailblazers through multiple forms of media, including documentary films. TAWANI Foundation’s challenge grant is specified to raise funds for the PFC documentary “Sharecropper to Surgeon General,” which details the inspirational story of Dr. Joycelyn Elders, the first African American woman to serve as Surgeon General of the United States. She was the second woman to head the U.S. Public Health Service.
“Dr. Elders and I both served in the US Army as commissioned officers and share many of the same interests,” said Col. Pritzker. “She is a true American hero, and I have enormous respect and admiration for her career. I’m very grateful to be associated with a resilient leader who overcame poverty, racism, and sexism throughout her journey to the White House. We applaud Partnerships for Change for bringing a documentary about her to light, and we are honored to support its development.”
Dr. Elders was born to parents who were sharecroppers and was the granddaughter of an escaped slave. “Sharecropper to Surgeon General” follows her remarkable path from experiencing poverty in childhood, to her pursuit of medical school, to her barrier-breaking appointment, to U.S. Surgeon General in 1993-94. The documentary includes interviews with colleagues, family, patients, and political allies, as well as detractors. Academy and Emmy award-winning filmmakers are part of the roster of directors and producers.
On behalf of Partnerships for Change, Director Stuart Sender, and Members of the Advisory Board, we thank the TAWANI Foundation for their generous and timely Challenge Grant. At this critical time in our nation, an inspirational piece of African American history is embodied in the story of Dr. Joycelyn Elders’ life, life’s work and the impact of that work,” said Sonnee D. Weedn, Ph.D., Executive Producer.
TAWANI Foundation is the philanthropic arm of TAWANI Enterprises, a Chicago-based firm with businesses spanning property management, publishing and education. The Foundation supports non-profits with grants across five main categories: education, gender & human sexuality, cultural institutions & preservation, environmental initiatives, and health & human services.
To learn more about TAWANI Foundation grants, visit https://tawanifoundation.org/our-grants. TAWANI Foundation is a private foundation that accepts applications by invitation only. There is no open application period.
About TAWANI Foundation
Founded in 2002 by notable philanthropist and entrepreneur Colonel (IL) Jennifer N. Pritzker, IL ARNG (Retired), TAWANI Enterprises’ philanthropic organization, TAWANI Foundation, is a 501(c)(3) that provides support in the areas of arts and culture, historical preservation, health and wellness, LGBTQ+ and human rights, education, and environmental initiatives. TAWANI Foundation’s vision is to make a sustained and measurable difference for organizations that focus on enriching knowledge, improving health and wellness, and promoting scientific understanding – all with a common goal of making a positive, long-term impact on individuals, communities, and the culture itself. To learn more, visit https://tawanifoundation.org.