Happy Birthday Kermit Eady - Founder of The Black United Fund of New York

By Gloria Dulan-Wilson
Hello All:

In the midst of the celebration of the 107^th Founders Day of Delta Sigma Theta, I have to pause and give a Birthday salute to a dear friend, KERMIT EADY, FOUNDER OF THE BLACK UNITED FUND OF NEW YORK (BUFNY), who made his untimely transition a year ago, just shortly after celebrating his birthday in Florida.

Kermit Eady Social Activist - founder of THE BLACK UNITED FUND OF NEW YORK (BUFNY)

Kermit Eady was not only a friend, but a personal hero in my life – and actually, in many ways, a super hero for many New Yorkers. I had the pleasure of working as an account executive and advocate for BUFNY from approximately 1992 to 1999. And continued to maintain my affiliation with them even after I was no longer employed there.
I was so proud to be part of an organization that helped Black people and organizations achieve their goals and dreams through the underwriting of their programs by providing the financial wherewithal necessary. While many conscious Black people would always talk about how much Black people could do if they each contributed $1.00 a week to a pool – a mutual fund system, Kermit Eady actually made it happen!! And in doing so, he made history. And in making Black history, he made enemies.
But that didn't worry him. He was able to get Black people from all walks of life, from cleaning ladies, laborers, secretaries, nurses, technicians, doctors, lawyers, educators – to voluntarily contribute from $1.50 to $20.00 per pay check per month into a pool of funds, via payroll deductions from Black people all over New York, as well as parts of New Jersey and Connecticut. No federal dollars were involved, because whenever there were federal funds and other so called charitable organizations involved, they would routinely turn down Black led, oriented or beneficiary programs over minutiae. However, the Black United Fund of New York – and by association, extrapolation of New Jersey, Philadelphia, Chicago, and other areas, made BLACK PEOPLE THEIR PRIORITY, and in doing so, funded homes, remodeled buildings, providing decent, affordable quality living spaces for Black people throughout NYC. They were the barrier between rabid gentrifiers and the community – competing with them for abandoned buildings, and then, using Black skilled workers, renovated them so the community could remain in the hands of the people.
Their motto was THE HELPING HAND THAT IS YOUR OWN
I always teased Kermit that the reason he was so devoted and determined and so cool was because he was born on January 13, which is also FOUNDERS DAY FOR DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY. He couldn't help himself. LOL
Because of Kermit, more than 600 units were renovated in Manhattan alone, along with 400 units in Brooklyn and the Bronx. He helped underwrite or incubate several new Black owned businesses, saved homes, provided scholarships, provided health coverage. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6CZwvzDeH0 
This is the first year we've actually been without our beloved friend, who made his transition to the realm of Ancestor/Angels on or about January 24, 2019.


So I want to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY KERMIT – WE MISS YOU SO MUCH AND ARE EVER GRATEFUL FOR ALL YOU DID AND ALL YOU TRIED TO DO.
With much love from your crew

Larry Barton &
Jacqueline Durant 
&
Gloria Dulan-Wilson 





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