Kelita Wright Foster

My career has two paths that have come together beautifully. I've been in accounting for over 20 years, which is my 9-to-5, but my true passion has been giving back to the community for just as long. It all started from being a single mom and understanding that when you're going through things and don't have a community to help you, it seems like you're out there by yourself with no help. I decided to be that person women could call anytime for whatever they need. If I don't have a solution, I can find one by getting them in contact with someone else who can help. This foundation came from my mom, Mildred Salter, who was a business owner, nurse, and educator. She imparted into me that it's not for yourself, but for others, and that has been my mantra. Two years ago, I rolled all of this into Black Excellence Empowerment Incorporated, a 501c3 nonprofit here in Jacksonville. We have a Queen's Closet where women can come shop for free for high-end items, whether formal wear, activewear, everyday wear, accessories, handbags, or shoes. We also created the Crown program for middle school and high school girls, bringing back home economics and etiquette, teaching finance and empowerment skills, helping young ladies know who they are and respect themselves. In our first two years, we fed over 60 families through our Feed the People event using our personal funds and donations. We've been awarded $37,000 from a church organization in Virginia and $5,000 from the Bedford Foundation because our vision matched theirs. I was published in the Voice Jacksonville Magazine in April. I lead a team of 12 women, and even though I'm the face of the organization, it's truly us working together. We've already been asked to expand into other cities and states, with Jacksonville remaining our corporate headquarters.