February is Black History Month, and a perfect moment to spotlight our own African American Legacy Fund, which was founded in 2013 by esteemed educator, philanthropist, and civic leader Dr. Anna Jolivet, Ph.D.
Anna was a native Tucsonan, a product of the segregation-era Dunbar-Spring School and Tucson High School, whose legacy for giving back to the community continues to inspire so many today. In 1950, she was one of only three African American women who graduated from the University of Arizona, eventually earning bachelor’s & master’s degrees in elementary education, and a doctorate in education administration.
After graduation, she returned to Dunbar-Spring to become a music teacher, and would eventually become the first African American woman to be appointed principal of a Tucson Unified School District school, rising to Assistant Superintendent before retiring from TUSD in 1989. In 1996, she was the first Black woman to be named Woman of the Year by the Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. From 1996-1998, she also served as the chair of CFSA’s Board of Trustees, and served on many other nonprofit boards, including the NAACP, the Tucson Urban League, UA Presents, and the Pima Council on Aging.
Anna would continue as a beloved community organizer until her passing in 2014 at the age of 85. Today, AALF continues her legacy, working to improve the quality of life for African Americans in the region by promoting philanthropy and strengthening community nonprofits through collaboration.
You can look forward to more about AALF on our social channels during Black History Month.