About the Foundation

The Bernice E. Travers Foundation, Inc., (the Foundation) is a mission-driven organization created in 2019 to improve lives and livelihoods of Black families by fostering creativities and collaborations to strengthen and connect families to resources that will educate, motivate and open doors of opportunities.  

In 2020-2021, the Foundation held several symposiums in partnership with Virginia Union University and community leaders. Symposium topics included “Fatherhood;” “Strengthening the Black Family;” “Pandemics in the Black Community;” and “Where Do We Go from Here,” furthering the inspirations of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The panelists included judges; the clergy, governor’s reps; state and congressional legislators; educators; mental/medical health leaders; business, civil rights and criminal justice advocates. In 2021, the Foundation sponsored its first Youth Chess Training and Tournament, hosted by the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia.

In furthering its mission, the Foundation’s renders chess and educational programs to inspire, motivate and energize youths to achieve success. The Foundation will accomplish its goals by collaborating with educational institutions, governments, businesses and organizations on initiatives to strengthen Black families, youths and communities.

Board of Directors