The Winding Ivy Community Development Foundation is proud to celebrate its fifth anniversary on April 5, 2026, marking half a decade of service, scholarship, and community empowerment. The foundation’s primary purpose is to provide scholarships to deserving students and serve the community through philanthropic efforts. It also functions as the primary source of external support for scholarships and community-based projects.

 

The foundation’s origins trace back to the charitable work of the Epsilon Epsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®. In 2018, the chapter awarded more than $20,000 in scholarships to female high school seniors and supported the Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) project through funds raised at the Pink Panache Scholarship Benefit Gala. The success of this event inspired chapter leaders to explore establishing a separate nonprofit organization to expand their community impact.

 

That vision began taking shape on January 4, 2021, when the first planning meeting to establish the Winding Ivy Community Development Foundation was held via Zoom. Members in attendance included Shayla Maatuka, Tameka Tanner, JoAnn Archey, Patricia McKinney Lewis, Asia Fuller Hamilton, Jolynn Caroline, Ty’Kira Dubose, Nameka Bates, and Tia Butler. Co-chairs Tameka Tanner and Shayla Maatuka, along with other key members, completed required workshops and followed the organizational guidelines of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® to ensure the foundation was properly established.

 

The Winding Ivy Community Development Foundation, Inc. received its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status from the IRS on April 4, 2021, and was formally introduced to the public the following day, April 5, 2021.

The Winding Ivy Community Development Foundation, Inc. is also an Illinois not-for-profit corporation and is registered with the Illinois Attorney General.