Our Story 

In the early seventies the descendants of Oliver and Emmaline Sturdivant who were brought to this country as slaves in the late 1700’s, held a family reunion in Charlotte, North Carolina. This reunion was held at the home of Joseph and Louise Nance Alexander. That group included the Nances, Alexanders, Bidgoods, Dargans, McLains and Sturdivants. This was the beginning of the Bidgood, Dargan, Sturdivant, Nance, McClain Family Reunion. This family reunion has always included extended family members and family members who can trace their roots to the Sturdivant Family. In late 2006, the Bidgood, Dargan, Sturdivant, Nance and McClain (BDSNM) National Family Reunion Committee decided it was time to find a way for the descendants of Oliver and Emmaline Sturdivant to come together as part of a common cause. The cause was to give back to our community and thus the idea was born to form a family foundation. The foundation would be a national foundation incorporated in the State of California under the IRS guidelines of a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

 

The primary purpose of the organization would be to provide financial and educational assistance to those in need. That committee further decided that the foundation would carry the names of all the families represented on the committee. On May 16, 2007, the California Secretary of State, Debra Bowen, signed into existence the BDSNM Family Foundation. This organization is certified with the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) Tax Exempt Charitable organization. This organization is represented in the states of California, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina as well as The District of Columbia (Washington D.C.). It will also operate in as many other states as there are individuals who embrace our purpose of assistance to those in need.  Welcome to the F.A.M.I.L.Y. (Family for the Advancement of Matriculation In Learning Youth) Foundation!