UNCF Celebrates 75 Years of Lighting the Way to Better Futures at New York "A Mind Is…" Gala

NEW YORK, March 13, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- During the past 75 years, UNCF (United Negro College Fund) has helped nearly half a million students earn college degrees. As the largest and most effective minority education organization in the United States, UNCF also actively supports 37 private historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and advocates for minority higher education. As it marks such a major milestone, UNCF is planning a year-long celebration via its fundraising events across the country including the New York UNCF "A Mind Is…" Gala beginning at 6 p.m., Thursday, March 21 at The Lighthouse, Pier 61. More than 300 guests are expected to attend including Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO, UNCF, and master of ceremonies DeMarco Morgan, CBS correspondent and HBCU Jackson State University alumnus.

This year's honorees, who through their sacrifice and determination have led the charge in championing for a quality education for all, include former New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg (UNCF Lifetime Achievement Award), CUNY board member Dr. Una S.T. Clarke (UNCF Shirley Chisholm Award) and Delta Air Lines (UNCF Corporate Partner Award). The New York "A Mind Is…" Gala is chaired by Edward Lewis, co-founder of Essence magazine, and is sponsored by Delta Air Lines and Citi.

"This will be an impactful evening because our HBCUs and our students need our support more than ever before," said Lomax. "We'll be paying tribute to shining examples who have not only fought for change, but who activated others to fight for change. But, more importantly, we will raise our honorees up as examples of how individuals and corporations can change lives, the country—and activate the rest of us to follow their example."

HBCUs not only provide a college education for 300,000 students every year, but they are a powerful economic engine: locally, through the jobs they create and the expenditures they make in the cities where they are located, and nationally, through the students they educate and prepare for an information-age workforce. With help from the New York area, more than $4.3 million was awarded last year to local students in scholarships. Further, with the release of UNCF's landmark study, HBCUs Make America Strong: The Positive Economic Impact of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, HBCUs are known to annually contribute $14.8 billion to the total economic impact and 134,090 jobs to the nation.

For more information, please call the local New York UNCF office at 212.820.0140 or e-mail [email protected]. Also, visit the UNCF New York page for continuous updates and news.

Follow UNCF New York on social media: @UNCFNY #UNCF75.

About UNCF
UNCF (the 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, supports and strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 17 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 1,100 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized motto, ‟A mind is a terrible thing to waste."® Learn more at UNCF.org or for continuous updates and news, follow UNCF New York on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @UNCFNY.

SOURCE UNCF (United Negro College Fund)

Related Links

https://www.uncf.org/