Businesswomen Leaves $4 Million Gift to Columbus Urban League

COLUMBUS – The Columbus Urban League (Columbus, OH), along with the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, have just received huge gifts.

Former Columbus Fair Auto Auction owner Alexis Jacobs, who passed away on June 3rd, bequeathed the organizations $4 million in unrestricted funds to the two organizations.

When President and CEO of the Urban League Stephanie Hightower heard the news, “I just started bawling.”

“You never know what kind of impact you’re having on someone.”

According to Hightower, Jacobs understood “philanthropic redlining practices,” which is a pattern in which Black-led organizations receive less funding and limited grants.

Jacobs’ gift to the Urban League will now enable Hightower to continue her efforts in building capacity, maybe via an endowment, she said.

“Now, I can begin to think more innovatively and start looking at the sustainability of the operation as opposed to living hand to mouth every year.”

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