PHILADELPHIA (PRWEB) February 14, 2018 -- UNCF (United Negro College Fund) will host the 4th annual Philadelphia region Women of Faith for Education Afternoon tea on February 22 at the Hilton Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing beginning at 2 p.m. Close to 300 corporate partners, religious leaders and community influencers will be in attendance, including event emcees Patty Jackson of WDAS 105.3. and Brother Marcus of Praise 107.9.
Benefiting historically black colleges and universities(HBCUs), UNCF aims to change the narrative of HBCUs across the nation by equipping minority students with the resources necessary to transition into college and ultimately the workforce.
Entertainment for the afternoon will be provided by Valerie Simpson, of the former Grammy award-winning duo Ashford and Simpson. With a career span over four decades, she and her late husband Nick Ashford penned classic hits such as, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “You’re All I Need to Get By,” “Reach Out and Touch Somebody’s Hand,” “I’m Every Woman,” “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing.”
The event will feature student testimonials, door prizes and a red-carpet parade of crowns competition. Last year, over $100,000 was raised in helping deserving students of the Philadelphia area get to and through college thus showing the positive impact of HBCUs on the economy.
With the help of the Philadelphia region community, $2,456,652 was awarded last year in scholarships and programs for our member institutions, including Lincoln and Cheyney universities. 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 $206 million to the total economic impact and over 1600 in total employment impact to the state of Pennsylvania.
“Events such as the Women of Faith for Education Afternoon Tea, stress the importance of HBCUs,” said Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO of UNCF. “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.”
The event is co-chaired by Cynthia A. Brown of Our Lady of Hope Roman Catholic Church; Gwen Foster of Ebenezer Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Shirley Jones Shakur of Masjidullah; and Salima Suswell of CAIR. Luncheon sponsors, include Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, Bethlehem Baptist Church, and The Black Catholic Churches of The Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and many others. Dr. Ellyn Jo Waller, first lady of Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church will receive the UNCF Keeper of the Flame award for her steadfast commitment to education and unwavering support of UNCF.
“Churches played a vital role in the establishment of HBCUs,” said Greg L. Lyles, area development director, UNCF. “Great sacrifices were made to secure better futures for minority students paying dividends for us all.”
For more information and sponsorship opportunities, contact Gregory L. Lyles at 215.925.9044 or greg.lyles(at)uncf(dot)org
Unable to attend, but want to make a difference in student’s life? Text UNCFPHL to 50555.
To stay connected to UNCF throughout the year, please visit: http://www.uncf.org/philadelphia
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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 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @UNCF.
Cynetra McMillian, UNCF, http://www.uncf.org, +1 202.810.0231, [email protected]
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