CBC FOUNDATION ADDS FOUR NEW MEMBERS TO ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
U.S. Rep. Donald M. Payne among new board members; new board treasurer elected

WASHINGTON – The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation recently welcomed four new members – including a member of Congress and three others with significant governmental and legislative affairs experience – to its Board of Directors.

The new members, each of whom will serve three-year terms, are:

• U.S. Rep. Donald M. Payne (D-N.J.), a past chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus and current chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health.
• Michael Draine, senior director of federal governmental relations in the Washington office of AstraZeneca, a pharmaceutical executive with a quarter century of industry experience.
• Lewis L. McKinney Jr., a former CBCF Board member, and vice president of industry and government affairs, Midwest Region, for Anheuser-Busch Companies.
• Yelberton R. “Yebbie” Watkins, chief of staff for the House Majority Whip, and named by Roll Call newspaper as one of the Top 50 staffers on Capitol Hill in 2007 and 2008.

“With the addition of this diverse group of highly regarded individuals, CBCF is well positioned to continue to aggressively implement its overall agenda,” said U.S. Rep. Kendrick B. Meek (D-Fla.), the organization’s Board chairman.

The Board elected the new members during its winter retreat held jointly with CBCF’s Corporate Advisory Council (CAC) Feb. 29-March 2 in the Miami area. The Board also elected Elliott Hall of Dykema PLLC as treasurer. Formerly the assistant treasurer, Hall replaces A. Shuanise Washington of Altria Corporate Services, a Board member who stepped down because of term limits.

“The new members bring an extensive range of experience to our Board,” said Elsie L. Scott, Ph.D., the Foundation’s president and chief executive officer. “I value their added guidance as CBCF works to reduce poverty, improve public health and increase financial literacy among African Americans.”

After holding their meetings during the retreat, the Board and CAC met jointly to review outcomes of the CBCF’s five-year strategic plan that expired last year. They then reviewed the organization’s vision, mission and goals as efforts are underway to soon adopt a new five-year strategic plan.

Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.) addressed the two groups during an evening reception.

About the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Inc.
CBCF was established in 1976 as a nonpartisan, nonprofit, public policy, research and education institute to help improve the socio-economic circumstances of African Americans and other underserved communities.