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Investing
in North Carolina’s Future
“I’m
still an optimist. I’m
hopeful and optimistic that
we can in fact have a better community.”
- Valeria Lee,
President, The Golden LEAF Foundation
The word “give,”
in its root form, means “to have” or “to
cause to have.” In our
society, philanthropy is like a seedbed for the dynamic
laws of giving and receiving. Part of philanthropy
involves the business of grantmaking, or the strategic giving
of financial resources to influence an outcome. Grantmakers
facilitate planting the seeds for economic development through
the grants they award.
Near the top of North
Carolina’s roster of grantmakers is The Golden LEAF
(Long-term Economic Advancement Foundation). This
non-profit corporation was created by Court Order as a result
of the 1998 master tobacco settlement with cigarette manufacturers.
The Golden LEAF Foundation receives one-half of the funds
coming to North Carolina, which is $2.3
billion over 25 years, or an annual average of $82 million.
With these resources, The Golden LEAF Foundation is helping
North Carolinians transition from a tobacco-dependent
livelihood by making grants and investments that
will positively impact the long-term economic advancement
of the state. The “keeper
of the flame,” beacon of hope, and
leader of stewards for these resources to create long-term
economic vitality is Valeria
Lee, President of The Golden LEAF Foundation.
 Philanthropy
was not a career destination Valeria chose for herself
when she left a small farm in her native Halifax County
and entered North Carolina Central University. How is it,
then, that Valeria Lee has acquired acumen for grantmaking,
built a one-of-a-kind reservoir
of know-how, and become a master in the industry?
Valeria describes the process as a series of openings she
was willing to step through, yet emphasizes she didn’t
create the openings.
Passion
for social and justice issues
Early experiences
sparked Valeria’s passion for social and justice issues.
Her husband’s military career provided an opportunity
to live in Turkey for two and one-half years. Valeria
discovered life without the cloud of Jim Crow laws.
In Turkey, she was not viewed as a member of an out-group,
but as an American, a form of status symbol. She
experienced an environment that nurtured the pursuit of
unlimited opportunity for all. Upon
returning to the United States, acculturating to a society
ladened with restrictions for African-Americans was challenging.
It heightened her awareness of racial issues in our society.
Valeria’s response was to look for ways to build community
for ALL citizens, which has become a lifelong pursuit.
A keen understanding
of collaboration and partnership was gleaned on the front
lines of school integration. While many communities became
embroiled in a hotbed of chaos, Valeria, in her
role as a school counselor, was partnering with other visionaries
in the community to create a harmonious process for successful
school integration.
Understanding
what’s on the other side of the table
Valeria brings another
gift to her role as President of The Golden LEAF Foundation.
She knows, from experience,
both sides of the grantmaking table – the role of
grant seeker and grantmaker.
Seeking funds was
one of Valeria’s responsibilities as the founder and
General Manager of WVSP, a national public radio affiliate
located in Warrenton. Her vision for creating a
medium to bring information and entertainment that would
not otherwise be available in the region became a passion
and a turning point in her life. “In
my mind, then and even now, if you have information, you
have power. You have some control because you can make some
decisions,” says Valeria.
For
12 years, Valeria created radio programming focused on what
was going on in the region, particularly social and justice
issues. “We had a very strong news
and public affairs format. We felt strongly that the
voices of the community should be the voices on the radio.
It brought the people together. We used media as our focal
point so that we could (a) get the message in, and (b) get
the message out to others. So,
it was a mix of community service and community development.”
Business journals
strongly emphasize networking to build and advance careers.
Valeria’s next career step is attributable to more
than networking. It reinforces the power of generating
social dialogue and being at the table.
In the course of all
the fundraising for the radio station and program development
work, relationships were formed,
conversations exchanged, and opportunities opened up to
move to the other side of the table – the grantmaker.
In 1985, Valeria Lee became a Program Officer for Z Smith
Reynolds Foundation, located in Winston-Salem.
 Opportunities
to test out solutions
Exuberant is the best
adjective to describe Valeria’s demeanor as she discusses
the nature of grantmaking. “Keep in mind,
no one comes to funders without saying, ‘I
have a problem that I can have a positive impact on.’
So, everyday, you are working with people who have solutions.”
Even while describing the times solutions were offered that
seemed original to the presenter, yet had been heard at
the Foundation numerous times, Valeria
expresses the thrill of working with people who were solution-oriented.
She is quick to extend
appreciation and gratitude to her mentors at Z Smith Reynolds.
“I would be remiss if I didn’t start naming
people who just wouldn’t let me sit in a role and
be comfortable. Obviously, Tom Lambeth was extraordinary.
Whether it was being encouraged to participate on
a program, board or do some other things in the community,
he was very supportive of the staff looking beyond paper
and the office. There were several women on the
board who saw me there as a way of helping other women have
other opportunities. They were pushing me, and I them.”
A
dream come true
When The Golden LEAF
Foundation was being formed in 1999, Valeria was paying
very close attention to it. “When
it was coming out of the General Assembly, I thought that
would be a dream come true. To be in a position to help
use these resources in a way to make a difference in North
Carolina’s future.” She laughs
as she shares how many other people she thought were having
the same dream.
An initial fear of
rejection reigned in Valeria’s desire to leap into
the ring and pursue the President’s position. Her
strong commitment to walk the talk overruled fear. Conviction
showed up. She chose to be congruent with her “talk”
and stepped out in faith.
It was then, that
the “series of openings she was willing to walk through”
revealed the making of a master grantmaker. There
was so much more than knowledge of grantmaking and philanthropy.
She had an in-depth understanding of small, rural communities,
as well as the urban places that were doing well and those
that were not doing well; a sense of agriculture
and the transitions that would be required for people to
move from one economic basis to another; know-how in dealing
with politics and media interaction; plus, strong academic
preparation.
 Valeria
says she’s relying on everything she’s learned
throughout her lifetime. “Both the joy and
the burden of it is trying to make certain that we do the
best that we can with these resources. You know, it’s
kind of that long-term view with these funds. They
have to be used well now so it will be the basis of them
being used well in the future. That drives me.”
Valeria sees The Golden LEAF Foundation funds as a one-time
opportunity to have dedicated resources for helping communities
make a transition from one form of dependence on a particular
commodity to something else. She says the “something
else” can be self-employment, new crops to grow, or
building new skills to generate an income.
As we closed the interview,
there was one more “series” Valeria said grabs
her attention. It’s a series of two-letter words that
has become her mantra, “If
it is to be, it is up to me.” She
acknowledges the simplicity in the statement, but says she’s
paid a lot of attention to it over time. “I think
more of us who take responsibility for those things around
us, the better [it will be] for ALL people. I am still an
optimist. I’m hopeful that we can in fact
have a better community. It’s
not simple perhaps in terms of how it evolves, but many
of the solutions really are simple.”
Oprah Winfrey said,
“Not only are you responsible for your life,
but doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place
for the next moment.” Valeria Lee’s
“series of openings” that she stepped through
epitomizes the truth in this statement. The openings along
the way have led her to being the “keeper of the flame,”
beacon of hope, leader of stewards at The
Golden LEAF Foundation. She
exemplifies “the right person, at the right time,
for the right job.” |
Marilyn
Sprague-Smith,
M.Ed.,
is
an
award-winning
consultant,
trainer,
author,
professional
speaker,
and
certified
laughter
leader.
Through
her
consulting
and
training
firm
Miracles
&
Magic,
she
partners
with
individuals
and
organizations
seeking
a
catalyst
for
long-term
positive
change.
She
is
one
of
only
six
people
in
the
world
authorized
by
The
World
Laughter
Tour
to
deliver
laughter
leader
certification
training.
As
a
frequent
guest
on
National
Public
Radio’s
WFDD
88.5
FM
Real
People.
Real
Stories.
www.wfdd.org,
she
shares
true
stories
about
the
magic
of
laughter
and
the
sparkle
it
brings
to
relationships.
Many
thanks to Allen Hinnant of Rocky Mount, photographer for this
month's photo shoot with Ms. Lee.