Our family. Our responsibility. Our legacy.
The Carlo and Nika White Foundation exists to turn what we have been given into opportunity for others.
Our Community Partners
Our partnerships go beyond financial support. We work alongside organizations that share our commitment to opening doors and creating opportunities for others.
Mully Children’s Family
Legacy Early College
Twyanza Sanders Legacy Foundation
New Life of Excellence
Long Branch Baptist Church
Pour Out Project
NAMI Greenville
Juneteenth GVL
Beauty Marks for Girls
REEM Greenville
Western Carolina Rescue MissionMeet Our Executive Director:
HANNAH COOLEY
Hannah Cooley serves as Executive Director of the Carlo and Nika White Foundation, where she leads efforts to expand community impact, strengthen partnerships, and create meaningful opportunities for young people and families.
Hannah holds a Master of Science in Development Management from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina Honors College.
Before becoming Executive Director, Hannah served as Program Lead for the Foundation's Leaders in Training Program, where she expanded opportunities for students through mentorship, leadership development, and local, national, and international service experiences.
Her professional background spans philanthropy, consulting, research, and international development, with experience at the World Bank, Ernst & Young, Nika White Consulting, Blaze Group LLC, and Central Carolina Community Foundation. She also served as Student Body Vice President at the University of South Carolina, advocating for students and leading initiatives focused on community needs.
With experience serving communities in the United States, Paraguay, the Dominican Republic, and Kenya, Hannah brings a global perspective and a passion for developing future leaders. As Executive Director, she is committed to growing the Foundation's impact and creating lasting opportunities through education, service, and meaningful partnerships.
Our Board:
CARLO DAMON WHITE, SR.
Co-Founder
Carlo holds a BS in Economics from Clemson University. He served as a Captain in the United States Air Force where he managed a $36 million dollar budget as comptroller of Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait. Carlo has started multiple companies, with White Holdings, LLC, being his most successful, growing to over 3.5 million dollars in sales in 2015. Carlo’s civic involvement includes work on behalf of organizations and programs that support the well-being and interests of business, children, and families. He formerly served on the board of advisors for the Greenville Chamber of Commerce and the board of directors for Community Works Federal Credit Union. He also is an active volunteer and supporter of Graduate Greenville, Junior Achievement, Habitat for Humanity, United Way, and is an Associate Minister at New Life Church in Spartanburg, SC.
LAWANNA DENDY
Lawanna Dendy is the Director, Commercial Projects and Initiatives for US LBM, LLC. She gained her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Human Resource Management from Limestone College and her Master’s Degree from Clemson University in Human Resource Development. Lawanna also holds a Change Management certification from Prosci, Professional in Human Resources, PHR certification, and a Diversity and Inclusion Certification from Cornell University.
Lawanna is a well-versed HRBP with over twenty years of valuable and relevant experience in strategic planning, team building, change management, coaching, and collaboration. These skills are used for aligning a diverse skilled workforce with management needs to achieve business objectives.
In addition to her experience, Lawanna’s passion is helping others adopt a growth mindset. She delivers upon this by bridging the gap between people and opportunity. She believes if there is a big enough WHY fueled with purpose, understanding, and clear communication most people will buy-in with the right mindset...a Growth Mindset.
DR. NIKA WHITE
Co-Founder
Dr. Nika White is a diversity and inclusion advocate and practitioner with a great ability to establish and maintain professional relationships and drive positive change. She is a senior executive and strategic leader with 20 years of experience in advertising, public relations, media services, strategic planning, brand development, and project and fiscal management. She is a critical thinker, trained to assess marketing indicators and develop insights to inform strategic planning. Dr. White has well-developed organizational leadership and communication skills demonstrated through extensive interaction and collaboration with executive leaders across corporate and non-profit sectors. She is experienced in fostering open dialogue, building trust, and engaging key stakeholders to assess risk tolerance and build support. Dr. White has facilitated and guided business unit leaders in formulating new vision and strategic direction that successfully repositioned brands as differentiated market leaders. She has expertise managing P&L for national and international clients with total marketing budgets exceeding $50 million.
PASTOR SEAN DOGAN
Pastor Sean Dogan has served as Senior Pastor of the Long Branch Baptist Church since 1997. He loves the community and the people he serves, and under his visionary leadership the church has grown to over 1,100 weekly attendees. He recently led the church in a multimillion dollar building project and a $50,000 environmental improvement project that included a stream restoration, rock sitting area, and planting of over 60 trees. He has always pursued having a church that goes “beyond the walls.” He is a graduate of Clemson University and attended the Shaw School of Divinity in Raleigh, NC. He has been involved with and volunteered on the following Boards: Greenville Health System Board of Trustees, United Way Board of Trustees, Upstate American Heart Association Board, Hollingsworth Fund Board of Trustees, LiveWell Greenville, Mill Community Ministries Board, Public Education Partner’s Board, St. Anthony’s Catholic School Advisory Board, Senior Action Board of Trustees, Generations Group Home Board of Directors, Pendleton Place for Children and Families, UNCF Upstate (Past Chair), S.H.A.R.E Board of Directors, N.A.A.C.P. He was listed as the Best and Brightest under 35 by Greenville Business Magazine in 2010.
PASTOR JAMES E. WHITE, II
James E. White, II is a residential builder with over 25 years of experience in construction, design, leadership, and management. He is the principal of James White Enterprises, LLC, a growing company that provides solutions in project management, residential building, interior renovations general contracting, and property management. He holds a BA from Beacon Bible College in Columbus, GA, a Property Manager in Charge (PMIC) Certification from Wyatt Institute in Greenville, SC, and a Project Manager Certification from Villanova University. In addition, he is a Pastor at the New Life of Excellence church and Board Member of the Department of Special Needs.