THE GENEROUS DONATION WILL PRIORITIZE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FIRST GENERATION STUDENTS OF COLOR

April 19, 2023 – The B3 Foundation, founded by NFL Offensive Lineman Zach Banner, announced today its largest donation to date, given by Stephen Feingold, a retired lawyer moved by Banner’s story and a dedication to community service.

The donation was prompted at the nexus of two rather unexpected events. First, Feingold discovered he had inherited money from a relative who was the son of the owner of a cotton farm in Mississippi during the first half of the 20th century, when sharecropping allowed the South to ignore that slavery had officially ended after the Civil War. While this relative was a respected lawyer involved in civil rights causes and his wealth reflected his successful career, Feingold understood that the money he inherited was in some way a product of the systemic racism prevalent in the South during the 20th century, and which has yet to be eradicated.   Feingold understood that to ignore this fact would only continue the injustice that has led to the growing wealth gap between Black Americans and their white counterparts. He felt a “moral obligation” to donate a portion of this money to an organization working within the Black community. 

“My father, a rabbi, greatly admired Rabbi Joshua Heschel who marched with Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma,” said Feingold. “I always understood that opposing racism in America was intrinsic to my Jewish identity.”  

 Feingold enjoys football but does not consider himself a fan. However, when he read about how Banner had stood up against an anti-Semitic tweet by another NFL player, he was impressed. 

“I saw what Zach was doing and I greatly admired it. This is a young man who is deeply passionate about bringing transformation to his community through education and empowerment,” says Feingold, who now resides in Western Massachusetts.  “When I heard what Zach was saying about the need for togetherness and empathy, especially between the Black and Jewish communities, I was moved. Our communities have a long history of fighting side-by-side against injustice, in pursuit of a better future. I am thankful for the opportunity to support the efforts of Zach and his B3 Foundation where it will be invested to help Black Americans achieve a better tomorrow.” 

The Hyman-Feingold Scholarship Fund will support the B3 Foundation’s current scholarship offerings, which include the Future Community Leaders Scholarship as well as the Geno Fillipponi Memorial Scholarship. The Hyman-Feingold Scholarship Fund will focus on investing in first generation college students of color, helping to remove financial barriers en route to gaining an undergraduate degree. 

Feingold is a retired partner at Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP, one of the nation’s largest 100 firms. During his career Feingold was named a New York Super Lawyer for over 10 years and taught as an adjunct professor at Fordham Law School. 

“I am so honored by and grateful for Steve’s donation,” says Banner. “At B3 we are all about community and a healthy community grows when people believe and invest in it. Steve is investing in what we’re doing and we are so excited to have his business expertise and experience. Even more significantly, this donation models something I hope to see more of – the power and impact of the Jewish community and Black community coming together. We need each other’s backs as we fight for justice and progress in our communities, and this is such a beautiful example of that.”

“Education is transformational in the ways that it unlocks doors and changes families for generations,” Feingold says. “I can think of no better place to invest this money than into the lives of deserving students pursuing that transformation. I look forward to working with Zach, the B3 Foundation and its future scholarship recipients for years to come.”