Ontario, CA — Recently, business leader and funding strategist Luvina Beckley was honored with the Innovator of the Year Award during the Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce Business Awards Dinner in Ontario, CA
The award recognized Beckley’s years of work helping businesses, nonprofits, and underserved communities gain better access to funding opportunities, federal grants, and contracts.
“It was somewhat humbling that we are being recognized,” said Beckley during an interview days after the event. “We believe there’s a lot more value that we can add to it. We feel like our program is going to accomplish what it needs to accomplish, which is to allow more of us to access federal grants and contracts than we have been able to access before.”
The honor became even more meaningful because Beckley celebrated the moment alongside her daughters, Jade and Jordan. She shared that both of her daughters have played important behind-the-scenes roles in helping build the project and vision that led to the recognition.
Later this summer, Beckley will launch the “Urgency of Now” Fireside Series, a multi-city tour designed to introduce communities to her newest grant-funding product and platform. The tour will kick off in the High Desert later this month on Tuesday, June 30th, with stops in Los Angeles in July, Chicago in August, and additional stops in Miami, Baltimore, and North Carolina.
According to Beckley, the two-day events are focused on helping community leaders, business owners, and nonprofit organizations better understand how to access resources and build stronger local economies. Her studies show that only about 1% of minority businesses and nonprofits are effective and consistent at securing federal grants and contracts.
“We’re looking to change the 1%,” Beckley said. “People just need to know that we’re nowhere near where we can be or should be. It’s ours for the taking if we stand up and do what we need to do.”
The tour will feature discussions with leaders, live demonstrations of the platform, and conversations centered on economic growth, sustainability, and community empowerment.
Beckley says the long-term vision is larger than funding alone. Her goal is to help communities create systems that allow businesses and nonprofits to thrive without depending fully on outside support.
“That’s where the real sustainability happens,” Beckley explained. “That’s where philanthropy thrives.”
Community leaders, nonprofit organizations, entrepreneurs, and funding advocates are expected to attend the tour events throughout the summer.
For media inquiries, interviews, or tour information, please contact:
Jade Knight
jadek@mhmandassociates.com
