UNCF to Host First UNCF Mayors Breakfast in Lowcountry to Benefit Underserved Students and Address Issues in Education

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Charleston, SC (PRWEB) July 28, 2014

UNCF is proud to announce that Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr., North Charleston Mayor R. Keith Summey and Summerville Mayor William “Bill” Collins will host its first annual UNCF Lowcountry Mayors Breakfast on Wednesday, July 30, 2014, at the Felix C. Davis Community Center in North Charleston. The Breakfast will bring together Charleston area business, civic and education leaders to support UNCF’s work to create a college ready culture that provides students with the support they need to get to and through college. It is the first time UNCF has held such an event in the Lowcountry, and the estimated $30,000 in proceeds will provide financial support to minority students from throughout the region.

“Today, when having a college education is more important than ever, investing in our young people’s futures is more important than ever if we are to be competitive in today’s economy. UNCF works to ensure our future leaders have the opportunity to obtain the college degrees they need, and our nation needs them to have,” said Michael L. Lomax, Ph.D, UNCF President and CEO. “Today, we are continuing that investment here in the Lowcountry, and it is one that will pay dividends for all of us as they become our next generation of leaders.”

Breakfast guests will hear from all three mayors, as well as from Dr. Henry N. Tisdale, president of UNCF-member institution Claflin Unversity, and Claflin University alumna Brittany Jenkins. During the Breakfast, Live 5 News anchor Ann McGill will moderate a conversation between Mayors Riley, Jr., Summey and Collins about the state of education and young people in the Lowcountry. It is the first time all three officials have come together in support of an initiative, and highlights the critical importance of building a robust pipeline of college-educated African Americans.

UNCF supports more than 8,000 students across South Carolina, as well as its five member HBCUs based in the state: Allen University (Columbia,) Benedict College (Columbia,) Claflin University (Orangeburg,) Morris College (Sumter,) and Voorhees College (Denmark.) In addition UNCF supports more than 10,000 scholarships per year under more than 400 programs to students at 900 colleges and universities across the country.    

The Charleston UNCF Lowcountry Mayors Breakfast is made possible by the following sponsors:

Silver

• Coca-Cola Bottling Company Consolidated
• Medical University of South Carolina
• Royal Missionary Baptist Church
• Skanska USA Building, Inc.
• WSCS – Live 5

Bronze

• Anchor Signs
• City of Charleston
• City of North Charleston
• McDonald’s – C & A Unlimited
• South Carolina Port Authority
• Pattillo Construction – Charleston
• 2401 Mall Drive, LLC

“We are thankful to Mayor Riley, Mayor Summey, and Mayor Collins – as well as all of our sponsors for their strong support of UNCF and of education here in the Lowcountry and for leading an important dialogue on education that we need to have,” said W. Imara Canady, area development director, UNCF. “Investing in the advancement of minority higher-education benefits our local communities, therefore it is imperative that we come together to help deserving students get to and through college.”

For more information on the UNCF Lowcountry Mayors Breakfast, please contact UNCF at (404) 302-8623 or via email at imara(dot)canady(dot)uncf(dot)org.

About UNCF

UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the nation's largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students' education and development through scholarships and other programs, strengthens its 37-member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education. UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 21 percent of African American baccalaureate degrees. UNCF administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at over 900 colleges and universities across the country. Learn more at http://www.UNCF.org. Donations can be sent to UNCF’s Houston office: 723 Main Street, Houston, TX 77002 or at http://give.uncf.org/Houston.

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