The Foundation Origin Story

          The Davis Family Foundation was organized in response to the growing need to aid and advocate for underserved communities across America and abroad. . At the root of this growing need lies the foundation’s mission, which is to advocate for quality educational programs and supplies for our most vulnerable communities, families, and children.

          Although the organization’s founding is recent, the roots and values of the foundation span decades. The family’s philanthropic beginnings trace back to Saint Louis, Missouri, over three decades ago with the founding of Akwaaba, Incorporated, a charitable nonprofit organization created in 1995 by our founder's parents, Drs. Mark and Evia Davis, Senior, two educators in the local school systems in the Saint Louis metropolitan area.

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          Over several years, the Akwaaba organization led philanthropic efforts to benefit the people of Gomoa Obuasi in Ghana, West Africa. Through developed partnerships with the community, including support from their local school districts and their church, the Davis family was able to raise several thousand dollars to directly benefit the people, help construct a maternity clinic for expectant mothers, and lead a school renovation project.

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          The efforts continued as the Davis family migrated to Oklahoma, where Mark Senior and Evia served as professors and department chairpersons at Langston University, Oklahoma’s only Historically Black University (commonly referred to as an HBCU). Mark the Second would also begin his collegiate career there, and Nicole would go on to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees as well.

 

          As the years passed, the younger Mark entered the education field. He began as a high school teacher, and eventually matured into a school principal. During his nearly 20-
year career, Mark has noticed the ongoing need for quality school options for children in underserved communities, as well as the continued need for humanitarian aid and support abroad. His conviction and passion let to the formation of the family foundation.