The HistoryMakers, a national non-profit research and educational institution committed to preserving the untold stories of well-known and unsung African Americans, has announced a $600,000 award from the Enterprise Holdings Foundation. The 2012 Black Engineer of the Year David Steward co-hosted the presentation event with the Enterprise Holdings Foundation and added a $100,000 gift to produce a table-top book for the BusinessMakers Initiative.

Steward (right), chairman and CEO of World Wide Technology (WWT),  was photographed recently with BEYA Chairman Tyrone Taborn (left) at the annual Technology Recognition Luncheon held at the just-concluded 2019 Black Engineer of the Year Awards (BEYA) STEM Conference in Washington D.C.

WWT was a sponsor of the lunch that recognizes early-career achievement in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

According to The HistoryMakers, Steward and the Enterprise Holdings Foundation hosted nearly 100 guests at a reception to honor the St. Louis-area HistoryMakers and to announce the $600,000 award to The HistoryMakers to help raise the profile of African American achievement in business. Steward also committed $100,000 to produce a table-top book for the BusinessMakers Initiative.

The grant will help develop a comprehensive video recording of the lives, careers, and accomplishments of African American business leaders.

“We are thrilled that the Enterprise Holdings Foundation has chosen to support our work in this way,” said Julieanna Richardson, founder, and president of The HistoryMakers. “Because of this generous gift, The HistoryMakers will be able to begin the process of creating the definitive recording of African American business leaders.”

Carolyn Kindle Betz, senior vice president, and executive director of the Enterprise Holdings Foundation said the foundation “is proud to help The HistoryMakers tell the untold stories of both well-known and unsung African Americans in business. This initiative is a terrific way to recognize African American business leaders of the past while encouraging future leaders of tomorrow.”