Edith Prunty-Spencer"You cannot be critical of something which you have not tried to work with. You need to be involved with something. You need to make a difference, even if it is a small difference."
These are the words of Edith Prunty-Spencer, a woman who has, and still is, a trailblazer within the Flint community. Mrs. Prunty-Spencer has always had a presence. Her active membership in local organizations during her lifetime has provided her with the opportunities to make history. These memberships include the original Planned Parenthood board, Urban League, the Salvation Army board for more than 30 years, Friends of Film Museum, League of Women Voters for more than 60 years, her induction to the Genesee Regional Women's Hall of Fame in 2011, and lastly her lifetime membership to the NAACP.
She recently made a gift that will last for good, forever, to the Community Foundation of Greater Flint with the establishment of the Dr. J. Merrill and Edith Prunty-Spencer Fund. The Fund was founded because of the meaning of education within the family. Her parents and grandparents were educators and their influence fostered a lasting mindset.
On her 90th birthday in November 2016, she asked friends and relatives to give to the Fund rather than to bring gifts. "The Fund will make grants for educational purposes. We found that many kids exposure to occupations and how the vista of what's out there is limited," she said. "I hope to enhance and open up opportunities for young people so they can reach their full potential."
The Fund was her gift to the community, and has been added to her resume of achievements. Mrs. Prunty-Spencer has made change within Flint by her presence and will leave a lasting footprint with her endowed Fund and her membership in the Community Foundation's Legacy Society.