South Carolina Businessman Ben Navarro and his company pledge $250,000 to International African American Museum

Philanthropist and businessman Ben Navarro and his company Sherman Financial Group have generously pledged $250,000 in support of the
International African American Museum (IAAM). The museum and memorial, anticipated to break ground late this summer, is now just $2 million from reaching its Founders Fund goal of $25 million.

Navarro is the founder and CEO of Sherman Financial Group, a global investment company headquartered in Charleston. He also founded Meeting Street Schools (MSS) in 2008. MSS was founded upon the belief that all children deserve an excellent education regardless of their geographic or socioeconomic circumstances.

“Ben has made a remarkable impact in South Carolina through his philanthropic endeavors, chiefly through his work with Meeting Street Schools,” said Joseph P. Riley, Jr., former Charleston mayor and IAAM board member. “He cares deeply about our community and our state. His passionate interest in providing quality education for all of our children is especially inspiring. It’s an honor to have his support of the International African American Museum.”

The IAAM will advance education in the State of South Carolina as a center of learning and through curricula that will help teachers present chapters of our nation’s history related to the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and its far-reaching ramifications. The museum will also give children of color a prideful glimpse of their ancestry – of distinct, impressive and powerful African civilizations that made great contributions to the world.

Michael Boulware Moore, president and CEO of the IAAM, added that, “The entire IAAM team is so proud to count Ben and his company among our supporters. This museum has been 18 years in the making, and we are looking forward to seeing it begin to come to life later this year. We
would never have gotten to this point without the generous support of our donors.”