UNCF’s prestigious National “A Mind Is …”® Gala convened March 2 in the nation’s capital was a night to remember, raising more than $1 million to support UNCF-member institutions, other HBCUs and students of color to go to and through college.
More than 500 guests, including several UNCF board members, member presidents and alumni from UNCF’s 37 member institutions were in attendance. Legacy sponsors of the gala were Chevron and ExxonMobil.
UNCF Board Chairman Milton H. Jones, Jr., delivered opening remarks, sharing his major priorities as chairman to continue UNCF’s legacy of success. “We are redoubling our efforts to elevate respect for the UNCF brand and HBCU graduates. The UNCF brand is one of the strongest in the nation. Our motto, ‘A mind is a terrible thing to waste’® is known worldwide. However, we cannot rest on our laurels. That’s an easy way to lose our brand presence and momentum. Complacency is not and will never be in our vocabulary,” Jones said.
In his remarks, UNCF President and CEO Dr. Michael L. Lomax made a call to action to UNCF donors, partners and HBCU alums “to stay the course” with UNCF.
“HBCUs are changing the world and their graduates are major contributors to America’s success. UNCF and HBCUs are doing great work in America. We’re thriving,” Lomax said.
“Now that doesn’t mean all is perfect. We still have work to do. It is the work of all of us. The call to action is to stay the course. We have an extraordinary story to tell and we’re telling it…unapologetically,” said Lomax.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer received UNCF’s highest honor, the Frederick D. Patterson Award, for his outstanding support of UNCF and HBCUs and for being a key supporter of the bipartisan bill known as the FUTURE Act, which provides annual funding to strengthen the academic, administrative and fiscal capacities of HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions.
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