UNCF's Walk for Education Campaign Aims to Raise $2.5 Million to Support HBCU Students
The UNCF Walk for Education Campaign began its new season Saturday, August 12, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and will continue across 23 cities through February 10, 2024.
According to UNCF, the current response has been awesome and the campaign is off to a great start in supporting its 37 member HBCUs.
Established in 1944 in order to help more African-American students attend and graduate from college, UNCF has contributed to doubling the number of minorities attending college. UNCF has supported over 500,000 students in earning college degrees.
As mentioned by Black PR Wire, recent rulings around student loan forgiveness and affirmative action remind us of the importance of organizations like UNCF in their support of the professional and educational advancement of African-American students.
UNCF's Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute commissioned a study called Make America Strong: The Positive Economic Impact of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The report highlights the economic impact of HBCUs for its students and the surrounding communities, including the following important statistics:
HBCUs generate $14.8 billion in economic impact annually.
HBCUs generate 134,090 jobs.
The lifetime earnings for HBCU graduates is $130 Billion collectively or “$927,000 in additional income" per graduate.
The report highlights the fact that every dollar invested on or by an HBCU and its students creates a positive effect in its community.
Thus, with a goal of raising at least $2.5 million this year, the UNCF Walk for Education Campaign is an important driver for generating money to provide professional or financial support to help HBCU students complete their college education.
Supporters can use the UNCF Walk App or the UNCF website to walk, run, bike or simply donate to the campaign.