IN THE NEWS

High-impact investors and SUPERCHARGED philanthropists, Kwanza Jones and José E. Feliciano, received the 2024 Champions of Excellence Award at the Oliver Scholars 40th Anniversary Gala. Their generous donation contributed to the event’s success, helping raise over $1 million to empower and support Oliver Scholars’ exceptional young leaders.

Jones and Feliciano are partners in business and life, distinguished philanthropists, and entrepreneurs whose work has made a significant impact on education and community development. They are the founders of the Kwanza Jones & José E. Feliciano Initiative (Jones•Feliciano), a high-impact philanthropic grantmaking and investment organization and family office which focuses on four pillars: education, entrepreneurship, equity, and empowerment. Their dedication to these values earned them the title of Champions of Excellence at the Oliver Scholars Gala.

“We’re not only doing this for ourselves, but we’re doing this for future generations as we invest, expand, and empower, and hopefully, leave this world a little better than we found it,” said Feliciano.

Through the Kwanza Jones & José E. Feliciano Initiative, Jones and Feliciano actively invest in leaders and organizations dedicated to creating opportunities and support systems that uplift underserved communities. 

This aligns perfectly with the Oliver Scholars Gala mission to provide crucial support for Scholars so they can realize their full potential and ultimately give back to the city, the nation, and the world.

“It’s so important to boost and elevate, and to remember that no one succeeds alone,” said Jones.

During the event, Oliver Scholars presented Jones and Feliciano with the Champions of Excellence Award. The gala featured artists including Doug E. Fresh and Grammy Award winner Jeff Redd, inspiring speeches, special performances, and a celebration of the incredible achievements of Oliver Scholars and its honorees.

It was a night of elegance and impact, bringing together community leaders, philanthropists, and supporters dedicated to the cause of education and empowerment. This year’s gala marked the highest attendance in its history, underscoring the community’s strong commitment to Oliver Scholars’ mission.

About Kwanza Jones & José E. Feliciano

Kwanza Jones and José E. Feliciano are life and business partners. In 2014, they, founded the Kwanza Jones & José E. Feliciano Initiative (Jones•Feliciano), a philanthropic grantmaking and investment organization that strategically partners with nonprofits and for-profits to ensure maximum impact. Jones•Feliciano focuses on four pillars – education, entrepreneurship, equity, and empowerment – as providing access to capital in these areas leads to greater and more equitable advances and societal progress. Jones•Feliciano has committed more than $200 million to these efforts.

In addition to being Co-Founder and CEO of Jones•Feliciano, Kwanza Jones is an artist, catalyst, speaker, and philanthropic leader. She has held leadership roles as a board member and advisor to numerous companies and nonprofits, including the Apollo Theater, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center, and Bennett College.

José E. Feliciano is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Clearlake Capital Group, a global investment firm with over $80 billion of assets under management. In addition, Feliciano has served as a board member of various corporations and other organizations, including the Cedars-Sinai Hospital System, the Robert F. Toigo Foundation, and the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino, as well as a Trustee of Stanford University.