Enhancing the community, one outreach at a time.
The Reverend
DePayne V. Middleton
Foundation
The mission of the DePayne V. Middleton Foundation, (DVMF) is to enhance the community and provide services that not only assist others in need, but also empowers them for the change they are seeking by providing resources to educate, motivate and prepare them. This is the hallmark of the organization. The goal is to carry on the legacy of Rev. DePayne V. Middleton and all she worked on while on earth. The mission will begin with four goal oriented areas of focus: Scholarship, Education, Community Outreach and Unity.
Background
The DePayne V. Middleton Foundation (DVMF) started in the light of the horrific church massacre that took place on June 17th, 2015 at “Mother” Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, Charleston, South Carolina. The group had just finished a quarterly meeting awarding several licenses to preach to recipients, one being Rev. DePayne V. Middleton and decided to continue the night with their regularly planned Bible study, although it was much later than planned. The group of worshippers was visited by a white stranger, but they welcomed him into the bible study session of the predominantly Black church, giving him a Bible and copy of the lesson for the night. At the end of the session, as the group stood to pray, this stranger opened fire killing nine of the worshippers. In the bond hearing, Bethane Middleton Brown, the younger sister of Rev. DePayne V. Middleton (one of the victims who died the night of the shooting), stood and stated that these words; "We are the family that love built. We have no room for hate so we have to forgive.”
"Great things are done by a series of small things brought together"
VINCENT VAN GOGH
