Black Belt Community Foundation honors CEO Felecia Lucky at gala, unveils new fellows program in her name

Black Belt Community Foundation held a gala in Montgomery called Evening of Honor on Friday, Sept. 19 to recognize Felecia Lucky’s 21-year tenure as president and CEO as she leaves to take on another role.

The event, held a Renaissance Montgomery Convention Center, drew 450 community members, leaders, partners, family, and friends to wish her well as she takes over as president of the F.B. Heron Foundation, where she will continue to champion community-driven progress on a national stage.

Longtime coworker Christopher Spencer will take her place at BBCF starting Oct. 1.

Recognizing her impact, BBCF showed highlights from all 12 counties in BBCF’s service area, along with the introduction of the new Fellows Program honoring her legacy.

BBCF said in a statement that Lucky has served as the visionary steward of BBCF, leading with vision and purpose. Under her guidance, the foundation deployed nearly $100 million in resources into the region. Her leadership fostered partnerships with over 200 nonprofits with guidance from 150 Community Associates from across the agency’s 12-county service area that makes up nearly one-fifth of Alabama’s land area. 

To honor her legacy, BBCF unveiled the Felecia L. Lucky Fellows Program, a new initiative focused on promoting academic excellence, Black Girls and Women in the South, career exploration, civic engagement and community-led philanthropy for high school students throughout the Black Belt region. Officially launched in September 2025, this program will provide transformative opportunities for the next generation of leaders, ensuring Lucky’s impact continues to ripple forward, BBCF said.

To learn more about the Felecia L. Lucky Fellows Program and to support the legacy of Felecia L. Lucky, please visit https://blackbeltfound.org/fllfellows/