Founder of GBC-Giving Back Corporation | GBC-Giving Back Corporation

How the GBC Seed was Planted

"When I was a mischievous teenager in the streets of one of the roughest areas in Atlanta, Georgia, called the Bluff, I remember watching an elderly lady with a cane go door to door collecting whatever money she could in a fruit jar. Once or twice a week, she took this journey.  

There were times that my friends and I would see her knocking on doors in the mornings as we went off to school, and find her still panhandling on our walk home. We watched her walk in every kind of weather. In the rain and snow, she'd change nothing of her routine except wrap herself in an old hand-me-down coat and hat to proceed. She'd always asked us how we were doing in school, and after we gave her some mumbled response, if any at all, we'd make jokes and mimic her as we passed her by.  

I always wondered why she never had enough money to take care of herself. It seemed that after all these years of begging, she would have more than enough to get by. After we graduated from high school and were about to go off to college, a knock came at each of our doors. It was she! She gave each of us an envelope and said, 'This is a little something to help you with your education.'  

What she had done all these years was walk to every door in the community and ask for what we now know were donations for us! It was her way of giving back to ensure each of us a positive head start in school. I never saw her again after that, and later learned that she had passed while I was away in my first year of college. But I never forgot her dedication to the kids of Bluff—and because of her, I have been inspired and committed to give back the way she gave back to me."

Service Area: Los Angeles base and Nationwide 
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 
Phone: (310) 226-6198 

MISSION STATEMENT
"To offer a helping hand to those trying to help themselves. GBC hopes to promote
educational goals among youth. To raise the bar of excellence and foster a more
positive attitude, approach to life and interaction with the community. It is important
that our children and community realize by empowering their beliefs, they can make a
change."

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About Ken Sagoes - the founder

Ken Sagoes, a talented actor and writer, was born in Stockbridge, Georgia, and raised in Atlanta. He began his career as a staff writer with Paramount Television, where he crafted stories that captured audiences' hearts. Among his achievements is the Disney Channel's Original Movie of the Week, On Promised Land. The film, featuring screen legends Joan Plowright and directed by Joan Tewkesbury, earned five CableAce nominations. Sagoes's work on the film garnered him the Best Family Screenwriter award and a nomination as a Humanitas finalist. 

In theater, Sagoes' stage plays Zora and Paul and Seven Maids from Stockbridge received critical acclaim, with the latter earning him a special Commendation from Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue.  
 
Sagoes gained international recognition for his roles in A Nightmare on Elm Street III & IV and Rosewood by John Singleton. His television appearances include Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Til Death, The District, The Bernie Mac Show, and The Parkers. His performances have been celebrated with nominations such as the NAACP Theatre and Los Angeles Critic Award for George Washington's Boy, and numerous accolades, including the ADA Los Angeles Valley Award and a Maddy Critic Award for Meet Me At The Oak. 

Ken Sagoes founded the GBC-Giving Back Corporation in 1997, a Los Angeles-based non-profit dedicated to honoring entertainment pioneers and providing scholarships for college-bound students. His humanitarian efforts have been recognized by Congress, House Representatives, several state governors, Dr. Maya Angelou and former President Bill Clinton. In 1999, California Governor Gray Davis proclaimed April 25 as 'Ken Sagoes Day.' Additionally, he was honored with the 2013 Community Leadership Award by the Los Angeles County Probation Union. 

Sagoes's legacy continues to inspire through his contributions to the arts and his commitment to giving back to the community.

“I am who I am, because of the word of God, and the many who have given back to me.”  

- KS 