The Southern Education Leadership Initiative is graciously supported by the Ginny Looney Fellowship Fund. In honor and remembrance of Ginny Looney, a long-time Atlanta-based attorney, the Southern Education Foundation (SEF) established the Ginny Looney Servant Leader Award in 2018 to support and acknowledge young leaders who exemplify Looney’s dedication to ethics and restoring faith in government. She was often praised for her diligence, sincerity, and her genuine belief in fairness. Given to one outstanding Southern Education Leadership Initiative fellow each summer, this award reflects SEF’s commitment to support young change agents who are dedicated to advancing racial equity and creating school systems in the South that give all children the opportunity-rich lives they deserve.

Each Ginny Looney Servant Leader Award honoree receives an additional stipend at the end of the summer to carry their work forward. The Award recipient also designates a donation from the Ginny Looney Fellowship Fund to go to the southern education effort of their choice that is significantly moving the needle toward equitable education. In addition to special recognition for making an important contribution to an advocacy effort, the Ginny Looney Servant Leader Award provides recipients with an initial experience as a donor supporting important education equity efforts. If you would like to contribute to this effort, please click here.