Is Supporting the UNCF Still Important?
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Posted By: Anthony Brown on August 09, 2005 While at Fisk University, W.E.B. Dubois once said, “Had it not been for Negro schools and colleges, the Negro would, to all intents and purposes, have been driven back into slavery. But…through establishing public schools and private colleges…(they) had acquired enough leadership and knowledge to thwart the worst designs of the new slave drivers…they built an inner culture which the world recognizes in spite of the fact that it is half-strangled and inarticulate …” Alumni are encouraged to gather together and hold the torch even higher and allow the light to shine a little brighter so the world may see the good works of their respective institution and the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). For more than 60 years the mission of UNCF has stood as a beacon of hope for so many students. Even more so, the importance of The College Fund is just as great today. Why? Because educated minorities have played, and will continue to play a critical role in the effort to keep America competitive and strong. Morehouse alumnus, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a lasting example of the vision and leadership to be found in the UNCF member institutions. UNCF understands the financial needs of the students that they serve. With college costs rising and less federal grant money available, low-income students and their families are finding more than ever they are responsible for covering an increasing share of college tuition and fees through loans, work-study and their own paychecks and savings. For current and future UNCF students and families, the lack of federal and state grant aid is a major concern. Despite UNCF’s work to keep tuition costs down at its 39 member institutions, more than 90 percent of the students still require some form of financial assistance. And, with 61 percent of UNCF students coming from families with an income of less than $25,000 and more than half from single parent families, it is no surprise that the students struggle to attend and pay for college. UNCF prioritizes the creation of scholarship programs to keep the most financially disadvantaged students from making educational decisions based on economics. Without additional financial assistance such as scholarships, talented young men and women will abandon plans of full-time college attendance. The need for UNCF alumni involvement to their respective alma maters and to UNCF is equally important. The resounding question regarding the need for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) continues to plague us, but our unwavering answer must always be to remind ourselves and others who have benefited so richly from the HBCU experience of our obligation to insure that these alma maters remain viable options for the many students who deserve the HBCU opportunity, experience and financial resources. The creation of scholarship programs in this community will be instrumental in helping to cover the financial need of youth not met through typical financial aid channels, while also educating college-bound students about the many opportunities available at UNCF member institutions and the varied services provided by UNCF. Through the involvement of various area office and alumni initiatives, UNCF will further its mission and as W.E.B. Dubois stated, “thwart the designs of the new slave driver.” Alumni are encouraged to call their local/regional United Negro College Fund office (800-331-2244) to become a part of this integral alumni movement. There are no special requirements, just the desire to continue the goals of The College Fund and work with the many special programs we present throughout the year. Is supporting UNCF still important? Yes, it is important to keep America strong; young people deserve options to choose the path they should go in life. UNCF and the colleges it represents provide those options. Always know that one person may be able to make a difference; however together we can make a change; call today and commit to making a change because “a mind is a terrible thing to waste.” About the United Negro College Fund Mission Statement and History. UNCF is the nation’s oldest and most successful African American higher education assistance organization. Its mission is to enhance the quality of education by providing financial assistance to deserving students, raising operating funds for our member colleges and universities and providing technical assistance to our member campuses. These campuses are historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), which offer disadvantaged students the opportunity to attend college by providing high quality education at lower tuition costs than private institutions nationwide. UNCF administers more than 500 programs that strengthen students’ access to our member institutions and enhance the quality of programs that our colleges offer. Without a doubt, these programs deliver essential services that might not otherwise be available to individual campuses or that would not reach as many students and faculty. In addition, our scholarship and fellowship programs support students attending more than 950 colleges and universities across the country. The Chronicle of Philanthropy has recognized UNCF’s success by naming it the number one educational assistance organization in America. Both the NonProfit Times and The Chronicle of Philanthropy rank The College Fund among the top 100 charitable organizations nationwide. Barron’s, the national weekly business journal, recently named UNCF as the number one most efficient educational charity in America. In its 60-year history, UNCF has raised over $2 billion to promote higher education achievement in the African American community and has helped more than 350,000 students earn undergraduate and graduate degrees and make productive and creative contributions to American life. Prepared By: Anthony H. Brown Midwest Regional Representative National Alumni Council/UNCF http://www.uncf.org/alumni/index.asp If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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Anthony Brown
From Warrensville Heights, OH Bethune Cookman University class of 1992 Member Since December 2000 |
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