Ford Foundation president to be featured at virtual Bureau of Governmental Research annual luncheon

By Staff

Source: The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate

January 22, 2021

The president of the Ford Foundation will discuss philanthropy and the public sector at an online webinar hosted by the Bureau of Governmental Research in February.

Darren Walker will be featured in a virtual version of the nonpartisan think tank’s annual luncheon. This year, the event will be held as a Zoom webinar titled “Philanthropy as an Agent for Change in the Public Sector: Priorities, Process and Impact in New Orleans and Other Cities.”

The event will be held from 11 a.m. to noon Feb. 9.

Walker has been involved with philanthropy in New Orleans since his work on post-Hurricane Katrina planning and recovery efforts as vice president for foundation initiatives at The Rockefeller Foundation. That continued when he moved to the Ford Foundation, which has provided tens of millions of dollars to the city’s recovery, according to BGR.

“With decades of achievement in creating positive community impact, Darren Walker is an extraordinary source of information about the ability of philanthropy to shape public policy,” BGR President and CEO Amy Glovinsky said in a news release. “And we shouldn’t overlook his significant, local connection through his work to catalyze transformative change in post-Katrina New Orleans.”

The discussion with Walker will be moderated by Greater New Orleans Foundation President and CEO Andy Kopplin, who served as the founding executive director of the Louisiana Recovery Authority after Katrina and was chief administrative officer under former Mayor Mitch Landrieu.

In a typical year, when the luncheons were held in-person, attendance required purchasing tickets. However, due to the pandemic and to allow the webinar to be a “community-wide public service,” BGR is making this year’s event free thanks to the sponsorship of the Zemurray Foundation.

However, those interested in participating do need to register in advance at https://www.bgr.org/bgr-2021-virtual-annual-luncheon-registration.

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