UNCF to Host South Florida Leader’s Luncheon Benefiting Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Their Deserving Students
(PRWEB) November 27, 2017 -- UNCF (United Negro College Fund), the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization, is proud to announce that Broward County Mayor Beam Furr, will serve as the keynote speaker for UNCF’s 17th Annual South Florida Leader’s Luncheon on Friday, Dec. 8, 2017. The event will take place at the Harbor Beach Marriott Resort in Fort Lauderdale from noon to 1:00 p.m. (check-in 11:30 a.m.). The luncheon will bring together South Florida business, civic and education leaders that support UNCF’s work in getting students to and through college and showing the positive impact of HBCUs on the economy.
“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,” said UNCF president and CEO Dr. Michael L. Lomax.
Mayor Furr added, " UNCF has a rich tradition of providing a foundation for students to grow and succeed. Between their work with Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and their investments in community education, UNCF is giving young adults the tools to build a better future. I look forward to partnering with the UNCF on initiatives that will provide access to quality education for future leaders in our community.”
With the help of the South Florida community, $6,150,757 was awarded last year in scholarships and programs for our member institutions, including Florida Memorial University, Bethune-Cookman University and Edward Waters College. And now, with the release of UNCF’s new publication, HBCUs Make America Strong: The Positive Economic Impact of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, we know graduates from these HBCUs contributed $276 million to the total economic impact and over 2,700 in total employment impact to the state of Florida.
“Our future depends on keeping the pipeline full of young people graduating from college with the education they need to emerge as the next generation of civic and business leaders in South Florida. UNCF works to ensure those future leaders have the opportunity to obtain the college degrees they need, and that our nation needs them to have,” said Maurice E. Jenkins, Jr. executive vice president, chief development officer, UNCF. “Investing in our students’ futures today will pay dividends for all of us tomorrow.”
UNCF South Florida Leader’s Luncheon is co-chaired by Broward County Commissioner Dale V.C. Holness and John M. Camillo, president, Yellow Cab of Broward County. Luncheon sponsors include official state sponsor Florida AT&T, Wells Fargo, JP Morgan Case, Publix Supermarket Charities, and locally by the Jesse Gaddis Foundation, the Florida Panthers, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Miami Chapter, JM Family Foundation, FPL, and many others.
In addition to a keynote speech by Mayor Beam, the program will also include remarks from Robert Runcie, Superintendent of Broward County Public Schools and presentation of UNCF’s John W. Ruffin, Jr. Endowed Scholarships for students attending Florida Memorial University and the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship at Nova Southeastern University. Luncheon guests will be treated to a performance by the nationally renowned DCA Jazz Ensemble (students from Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale). Sponsor opportunities and individual tickets are still available. For more information, please contact the UNCF Fort Lauderdale Office: (954) 527-3315 or via email at: Edith.Pearson(at)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 and college readiness. UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding nearly 20 percent of African American baccalaureate degrees. UNCF awards more than $100 million in scholarships annually and 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 more than 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 on Twitter at @UNCF.
Monique Lenoir, UNCF, http://www.uncf.org, +1 202.810.0231, [email protected]
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