Co-founder of nonprofit that boosts Black businesses among two winners of $100K Pinnacle Prizes

Brandon Calloway reflects the best of Kansas City’s young leaders, said Maurice Watson, announcing the G.I.F.T. co-founder as one of two winners of the 2022 Pinnacle Prize — an award that comes with a no-strings-attached $100,000.

“Brandon grew up in the urban core and is motivated to make social and economic conditions better than those he experienced as a youngster by attracting economic investment,” said Watson, a spokesman for The Pinnacle Prize, describing Calloway’s work through Generating Income for Tomorrow or G.I.F.T.

The organization was founded in 2020 as an actionable step to support Black businesses — and in doing so address a substantial racial wealth gap in Kansas City — in the wake of social unrest after the killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. G.I.F.T. provides grant funding to help black businesses operate and grow, generate new jobs, promote local economic growth, and make meaningful positive changes in the community.  

It awards two grants each month, focusing on investing in locally owned Black businesses in Kansas City’s lowest income areas.

Click here to learn more about G.I.F.T.

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Calloway is a veteran of the U.S. Army and a former health and fitness trainer. He started his own fitness business before transitioning to nonprofit work with the United Way of Greater Kansas City in 2018.

Presented annually, the Pinnacle Prize is awarded to two Kansas Citians, 40 and younger, who are working to strengthen communities that face socioeconomic challenges. Winners are  nominated by local leaders throughout the Kansas City area and chosen by a select committee  of city leaders. 

The $100,000 prize comes with no conditions or caveats, rather it is focused on celebrating and empowering young leaders who are committed to making a consequential impact for Kansas City and all the people who call it home, organizers said.

Click here to learn more about the Pinnacle Prize, now in its second year, and past winners.

Rachel Jefferson, Groundwork Northeast Revitalization Group (Groundwork NRG); photo courtesy of The Pinnacle Prize

For 2022, the prize also was awarded to Rachel Jefferson, executive director of Groundwork Northeast Revitalization Group (Groundwork NRG), formerly known as the Historic Northeast-Midtown Association. 

Jefferson leads the organization in its efforts to champion economic, environmental and food sovereignty and cultural identity and belonging to the community in Northeast Kansas City, Kansas.

Click here to learn more about Groundwork NRG.

“As a resident of northeast Kansas City, Jefferson sees the impact redlining, predatory businesses and lack of community intervention has on the local environment every day,” organizers of the Pinnacle Prize said. “As executive director of Groundwork NRG, she is committed to making meaningful changes to create an equitable Kansas City for all.”

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This story is possible thanks to support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, a private, nonpartisan foundation that works together with communities in education and entrepreneurship to create uncommon solutions and empower people to shape their futures and be successful.

For more information, visit www.kauffman.org and connect at www.twitter.com/kauffmanfdn and www.facebook.com/kauffmanfdn