Philadelphia's Board of City Trusts elects first black president in 151 year history
Published
article
PHILADELPHIA - The Board of Directors of City Trusts, the agency charged with overseeing charitable trusts bequeathed to the City of Philadelphia, announced the unanimous election of prominent city attorney Bernard W. Smalley as its President.
The election makes Smalley the first African-American ever to lead the Board in its 151-year history.
In the past, Smalley served as the Board'ss Vice President and Chair of the Girard College since 2012.
As president, Smalley will lead a Board that administers 119 public charitable trusts, including Girard College, the historic boarding school in North Philadelphia; Wills Eye Hospital, consistently ranked as one of the top eye hospitals in the nation; the John Scott Award, which is bestowed annually in honor of Benjamin Franklin to honor singular achievements in science and medicine; and a series of other trusts dedicated to improving conditions on the Delaware waterfront and providing financial support for thousands of Philadelphians in need.