WOI-TV: Like the old saying goes: to whom much is given, much is expected. For two well-known entrepreneurs in Des Moines, Rod Johnson and Pernell Cezar, they haven’t shied away from that. Since 2018, when they founded BLK & Bold, the company has grown into the largest Black-owned coffee brand in America. But the heart of what they do and why hasn’t changed. On Feb. 27, the company launched a new arm of BLK & Bold to wake everyone up and spark more social change through the BLK & Bold Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Johnson passionately described BLK & Bold’s mission as a company. “The business contributes 5% of its gross revenue to organizations that support youth in need,” he explained. Through the newly launched BLK & Bold Foundation, the company looks to make an even bigger impact on youth in need around the United States. The company aims to empower millions of youths through this initiative. “The foundation is the manifestation of the social impact component that’s embedded at the core of BLK & Bold. The foundation will own its own programming as well as provide other essential resources for youths across America, so while BLK & Bold has its 5% for our youth, the foundation will look to impact 5% of our youth,” Johnson said.
