United Negro College Fund Receives $200K To Help HBCU Scholars With Outstanding Debt Graduate

Amid the wave of generous donations that have flowed to historically Black colleges and universities throughout the country to eradicate student debt, nonprofit organizations are stepping up to lead efforts centered on alleviating financial burdens for scholars. Amongst them is the United Negro College Fund which has joined forces with the Anheuser-Busch Foundation to create an emergency aid fund for HBCU graduates.

#UNCF thanks the @AnheuserBusch Foundation for helping these talented, deserving students to realize their college graduation and we are delighted to renew our $200K partnership to continue providing Emergency Aid for #HBCU students. #HBCUStrong https://t.co/KBmp94RYkc

— UNCF (@UNCF) June 6, 2022

For many scholars, financial obstacles can impact graduation eligibility; preventing them from walking across the commencement stage and smoothly transitioning into the next chapter of their lives. Aware of the monetary struggles faced by scholars—which for some have been exacerbated due to the pandemic—the Anheuser-Busch Foundation gifted UNCF with $200,000 to provide emergency aid for students.

Through the fund, HBCU scholars can receive up to $2,500 to complete their degree requirements. This is the second year that the nonprofit and the foundation have collaborated to cultivate an emergency fund. Last year they were able to assist 69 HBCU graduates.

“For more than five decades, Anheuser-Busch and its foundation have championed UNCF’s efforts, making investments in HBCU students’ futures a priority, and helping so many students with emergency funding at a time when they needed it the most to graduate,” Maurice E. Jenkins, Jr., UNCF’s Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer, shared in a statement. “We thank the Anheuser-Busch Foundation for helping these talented, deserving students to realize their college graduation and make their dreams come true.”

Julio Suárez, a representative of the Anheuser-Busch Foundation, shared the endowment is an extension of the foundation’s commitment to equity in education and the funds will help scholars “secure the full benefits of a college degree and be able to pursue their professional goals.” The Anheuser-Busch Foundation has contributed over $5.5 million to UNCF.

News about the HBCU emergency fund comes months after the nonprofit teamed up with Deloitte Digital for the creation of an online education platform dubbed HBCUv.

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