Chris Hairston-White: Generations of Giving Black
This year, Chris Hairston-White and her husband Dwayne, both Charles City County natives, established their donor advised fund with the Community Foundation. But for Chris, this step was only the latest in a long history of giving back.
“The elders of my family, the ones who predate us, have always been generous,” she said. “They may not have had the financial capacity to give major gifts, but they have always been generous with their time, talents, and available resources.” But her story goes back even further. The plantations lining the James River in Charles City County include some of the estates where Chris’ enslaved ancestors worked.
During the Civil War, one of Chris’ enslaved ancestors, Thomas Williams, accompanied a captain (later a major) in the Confederate Army. After returning, he continued working on the plantation. After five years, Thomas was compensated for his military service with a five-acre parcel. Though small and marshy, the beachfront property marked Chris’s family’s first deeded piece of land, which still holds a special place in their hearts.
Throughout her career, Chris continued to engage in philanthropy, becoming an inaugural member of SisterFund, a member of the Community Foundation’s Community Impact Committee, the Impact Investing Committee, as well as serving on several local boards. When her accountant suggested that they establish a donor advised fund, it seemed like a logical step. At the same time, Chris wasn’t aware they were a good fit.
“I really didn't think that we were in a position to meet the requirements,” she recalled. “But once we were told it was a good next step and realized how accessible it was, I saw it as an opportunity to carry our family's story of generosity forward.” Chris worked with the Community Foundation to start the fund, which formalized support for the issues Chris and her husband had long championed through financial giving, direct work, service, and more.
Chris sees these issues, that include housing, higher education, health and wellness, and youth arts initiatives, as pathways to opportunity and long-term success, often benefiting the very people who call places like Charles City County home.
“We are ordinary people from humble beginnings doing our small part to support communities where our roots run deep,” Chris said. “If there's a door, I'm going to open it, and whenever possible, hold it open for someone else.” That perspective and the untold stories of Black Virginians who overcame tremendous odds continues to shape Chris's approach to philanthropy today.
“I hope to help normalize the contributions of everyday people as an essential part of the philanthropic ecosystem,” Chris said. “Because giving back is not just about wealth. It’s about these daily acts of kindness and generosity.”
