Kermit Eady

Kermit Eady (January 13, 1940 – February 4, 2019) was an American social worker, educator, motivational speaker, activist, and the co-founder of The Black United Fund of New York.

Early life and education

Kermit was born in St. Stephen, South Carolina. He was the youngest of nine children. He attended Saint Stephen's public school system. His family moved to Jamaica, Queens, New York City, where he attended John Adams High School. His family attended Saint Mark A.M.E. Church in East Elmhurst, Queens.

Eady received a B.A. degree from Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. He received a master's degree in social work from New York University. He was an assistant professor at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, New York. He also served as director of admissions and recruitment for Norfolk State University Graduate School of Social Work. Under Eady's leadership, the CFC helped to grow BUFNY from the initially $8,000 to $15 million by 2013 and developed more than 400 affordable housing in New York City.

In 2003, BUFNY purchased a radio station that broadcast the BUFNY-produced show The Empowerment Hour, which was hosted by Eady.

Controversy In 2002, Attorney General of New York State Eliot Spitzer started an investigation of BUFNY, citing the non-profit's shift in focus to housing and land development without notifying its donors. Spitzer named an interim board, which voted to remove Eady from his position as president in 2003, citing "a fundamental, profound, philosophical difference" in the way that Eady fundraised contributions.