March 26, 2009

Taking Foundations to Task

Activist seeks to force grant makers to do more to help poor minorities

By Ian Wilhelm

Al Pina is a fighter. The former U.S. Air Force sergeant is dedicated to helping families who live in poor neighborhoods dominated by minority groups. Since 2004 he has gone up against banks and other businesses here to get them to support these families, even going on a 16-day hunger strike to bring his opponents to the negotiating table.

Now he has a new target: foundations.

Mr. Pina, 46, who is chairman of the Florida Minority Community Reinvestment Coalition, says wealthy

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