To Our Untours Foundation Family, For the past several weeks the Coronavirus has caused disruption in our communities, our businesses, the economy, and our lives. These are certainly unprecedented times! Our thoughts are with all of you, as well as those who are sick from the virus, the brave healthcare workers who are on the
Cheryl’s Southern Style is a black-owned soul food catering company that brings heart and soul to its community. Owner Cheryl Stephens prepares and markets her delicious food at the Artisans Exchange in West Chester, PA and offers take out and frozen foods. Her signature dishes include Creamy Mac and Cheese, Savory Collard Greens, Loaded Bean
Fine jewelry, and diamonds in particular, can come with some unwelcome baggage. But Relevée sells fine jewelry made from ethically sourced materials and designed and crafted through a supply chain that empowers women. Their pieces include stylish gold bangles, diamond pendants, and simple statement earrings. All are designed by women, and they have partnered with
After a summer heavy rain got Lor Holmes’s flight canceled, she finally made it to sunny Philadelphia. And, lucky me [Olga], I got to host her at my very own home in Chestnut Hill, along with Untours Foundation Director Elizabeth Killough and Board President Heather Van Dusen. Lor leads venture development and capitalization strategies at
Michigan based Rende Progress Capital is the recipient of the foundation’s most recent loan. Rende is a Community Development Financial Institute or CDFI, a mouthful either way! CDFIs include a variety of banking institutions that provide credit and financial services to low-wealth communities. They are a great place to put savings, receive interest on that
I never appreciated Mister Rogers all these years aside from the very cheap thrill I’d get walking through his actual neighborhood on my way to grad school. That changed after seeing the documentary, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” I keep coming back to this film in my mind. Columnist David Brooks wrote in The New
When Catherine first moved to Philly, having access to healthy, local food was already a priority for her. She was enamored with her new community on the southern edge of the city where people from all walks of life seemed to converge, with over 40 languages spoken among them! She wanted to be intentional about
Our investees span the globe, from Indonesia to Africa, California to Philadelphia. Our work has often focused on urban redevelopment, but we value rural communities and their vital role in growing food, tending the earth and providing so many goods which we all depend upon. Many of our investees have more than one place where
The Untours Foundation hasn’t ever made a loan to a museum, but it is invested in an exciting new arts project in the struggling city of Chester, Pa. New Day Chester is inspiring artistic expression and using it as fuel for social renewal and much-needed economic development. With multi-talented artist and entrepreneur, Devon Walls, at