(Birmingham Promise)Birmingham Promise, a local nonprofit devoted to preparing students in Birmingham City Schools to achieve economic prosperity, was awarded a grant of $1 million to support their scholarship and internship programs, the nonprofit announced Thursday, Sept. 18. Birmingham Promise Executive Director Samantha Williams is one of five winners of the 1954 Project Luminary Award. The Luminary Award is given to leaders at organizations that are “working to transform educational outcomes in Black community. Since its founding, Birmingham Promise has provided more than $10.98 million in tuition assistance and other support to 1,600 local graduates, their website says. In 2024, Birmingham Promise received $10 million from the PNC Foundation.