Who we are
The Emanuel Nine Foundation, Inc. was established to honor the legacies of the Emanuel Nine by advancing the principles of faith, hope, and love through programs that promote education, community healing, and leadership development. Rooted in compassion and resilience, the Foundation’s mission is to transform tragedy into purpose by fostering unity, empowering individuals, and investing in the well-being of our community.
From Tragedy to Purpose
On June 17, 2015, the world was shaken by an act of violence that took the lives of nine faithful members of Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. The Emanuel Nine—Cynthia Hurd, Susie Jackson, Ethel Lance, Reverend Depayne V. Middleton, Reverend Clementa C. Pinckney, Tywanza Sanders, Reverend Daniel Simmons Sr., Reverend Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, and Myra Thompson—were gathered in fellowship, studying God’s word, when tragedy struck. Their lives, marked by love and faith, continue to inspire millions around the world.
Out of this immense sorrow emerged the Emanuel Nine Foundation, Inc., dedicated to turning tragedy into purpose. Guided by the values of faith, forgiveness, unity, and education, the Foundation works to create pathways of healing, leadership, and empowerment. It ensures that the legacies of the Emanuel Nine endure—not only through remembrance but through programs that actively strengthen communities and inspire the next generation of change makers.
Our Mission
Mission: To honor the legacy of the Emanuel Nine by transforming remembrance into action through education, leadership, and community healing that advances equity, unity, and faith.
Our Vision
Vision: To exist in a world where faith, love, and learning unite communities in healing and justice, ensuring the legacy of the Emanuel Nine continues to inspire generations to come.
The Foundation’s mission is grounded in a belief that remembrance is a call to action. Through this belief, it seeks to transform grief into growth and tragedy into triumph by building communities rooted in empathy, knowledge, and resilience.
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Meet the Team
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![woman with curly hair, glasses, and hoop earrings smiling at the camera in an indoor setting]()
Blondelle Gadsden
CO-FOUNDER
PRESIDENT
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![A man with curly dark hair, glasses, and a beard wearing a black sweater looks to the side in an indoor setting with a plant visible in the background.]()
Jamila Gadsden
CO-FOUNDER
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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![A woman with shoulder-length black hair, smiling, wearing a blue top, with lush green plants in the background.]()
Denise Quarles
CO-FOUNDER
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![A young woman with curly hair, wearing glasses, hoop earrings, and layered necklaces, smiling in an indoor setting.]()
Lee Bennett, Jr.
Secretary
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![A man with dark curly hair and glasses, wearing a black knit sweater, sitting indoors with a plant in the background.]()
Velma Stamp
TREASURER
Contact us
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