A Guilford alumni group and two other longtime friends of the College were recognized by the Association of Fundraising Professionals for their generosity on National Philanthropy Day Nov. 20.

Charlie Routh and his late wife Mary Kirkman Routh ’45 received the Lifetime Achievement Award by the association’s North Carolina Triad Chapter. Toiya Hancock ’93 and the Black Alumni of Guilford College received the IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access) Award for Greensboro.

Charlie (pictured above with Guilford President Kyle Farmbry) and Toiya were among a dozen individuals and groups honored for their philanthropy at a luncheon at Grandover Resort.

Charlie and Mary have been longtime supporters of Guilford. In 2019, the couple made a deferred gift to the College establishing a tenure-track professorship dedicated to Quaker studies. The couple received Guilford’s distinguished Algernon Sydney Sullivan Community Member Award in 2022 for a lifetime of community support.

The Rouths have made significant contributions to many organizations over decades of giving. It was a commitment made more than 60 years ago when the couple learned they could not have children.

“We decided to devote ourselves to charity work,” says Charlie. “We traveled throughout the country to help others whenever we could, and we loved seeing the results of giving and helping.”

Mary died Oct. 25 at the age of 99, and Charlie says not a day goes by that he doesn’t miss her. “We’ve got about 50 of these back home,” says Charlie, holding up the award. “But Mary would have been most proud of this one, this one is special.”

It’s the second time in five years that people associated with Guilford were recognized with the Triad Chapter’s highest award. In 2019, John Googe ’50 was the recipient.

Toiya is one of the founding members of the Black Alumni of Guilford College (BAGC) and its president. She says the award “is very touching.”

“I think it’s evidence of the seeds that you sow, not just by me but from the BAGC.”

Toiya (pictured in the center with, left to right Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Relations LaDaniel "Danny" Gatling II, Katrina Jackson '05, Tonya Handford '10 and Kyle) says she’s proud that many of the Black alumni that helped create the BAGC 10 years ago are still part of the group today. “Now we want to get more Black Guilford graduates involved,” she says.

The group, which has given out more than $30,000 in scholarships since its inception, plans to reach out to more Black alumni in 2024. Next year is the 60th  anniversary of the graduation of Washington Rakama '64 from Guilford. A Kenyan, in the fall of 1962 he was among the first three Black students to enroll at the College.. To celebrate, the BAGC will host events throughout 2024 to honor Washington and other Black graduates from the 1960s.

“We’ve come such a long way and this award shows that,” Toiya says. “But I really believe we are going to go even further in welcoming and recognizing all of our Black alumni friends.”

Danny says he's proud the association recognized the outstanding work by Charles, Mary, Toiya and the Black Alumni of Guilford College. "It is fitting that the association would recognize the outstanding work of these friends and alumni," he says. "Each has exemplified leadership by using their time, talents and treasures to improve Guilford College. Their acts of service have played a critical role in changing our communities for the better, and for this they deserve to be lifted up and celebrated."