“It is essential that students cross the finish line and graduate,” said Michael L. Lomax, Ph.D., UNCF president and CEO.  “These students have done everything in their power to graduate. Now, they have come to the last mile and need help crossing the finish line. We encourage communities across America to help these students get the education they need and our nation needs them to have. Many of these students will not be able to graduate this year if support is not secured.”  

As the recession lingers, many students at UNCF schools continue to find themselves in financially vulnerable positions.  Unemployment and pay cuts still reduce families’ financial support for their children’s education.  The credit crunch still keeps private student loans off the market.  And students still come up short of the funds they need to cover tuition and room and board balances.

Individuals, corporations and foundations can help thousands of students finish this academic year by contributing to the Campaign For Essential Student Aid.  Many companies match their employees’ donations, doubling the support for these deserving college seniors.  Other companies, like ExxonMobil, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Lowe’s—have given CESA challenge grants—donations that UNCF matches, again effectively doubling the donation.  All of them help a graduating senior complete the final year of their college education.

To help keep kids in college, send a donation today. Send your gift to the UNCF office at 501 Elm Street, Suite 700, Dallas, TX 75202 or call 972-234-1007. For more information visit www.uncf.org and click on Campaign for Essential Student Aid .

American Airlines gives $3,000

On January 23, 2010 at the African American Museum in Fair Park, the Dallas Chapter of the United Negro College Fund hosted a watch party to raise funds for local Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). The evening was filled with an atmosphere of pride and duty as attendees dressed elegantly for the night’s events. Among the attendees were on-air personality Tony B, of 94.5 KSoul who was the official host of the watch party, Paul Quinn president, Michael Sorrell, and representatives from the Tom Joyner Morning Show and RadioOne Media.

Before the viewing of the Tribute to Lionel Richie, which was taped in September 2009 at the Pasadena Civic Center in front of a live celebrity studded audience, the select few of Dallas elite was wowed by Hip-Hop Violinist, Richmond Punch. Guests also enjoyed a lavish buffet with Texas style BBQ, sides and wonderful desserts catered by Eddie Dean’s Ranch Catering, free wine and door prizes.

Corporations, employees and civic organizations of the UNCF happily turned over their collected donations to Diane Stephenson, UNCF area development director. The official results from the night were:
• American Airlines Employees $3,000
• AT&T Community Network – $3,000 (included company match)
• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. – Dallas Alumnae chapter – $1,000
• M. Terrell Alumni Association – $600
• Dallas Baseball Alliance – $1,000
• Alpha Kappa Alpha Chapter Inc. Omicron Mu Omega – $500

Stephenson, “We are always happy when organizations, small or large, are able to contribute to the educational goals of the UNCF.”

For more information or to donate to the United Negro College Fund visit their website www.uncf.org.

The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) is hosting their third annual North Texas Luncheon on Friday November 20 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency DFW Hotel (inside Terminal C) at DFW Airport.

The keynote speaker is U.S Trade Representative Ambassador Ronald Kirk,the former mayor of the City of Dallas. The monies raised at the luncheon will help students at the five UNCF member institutions
throughout Texas.

“Funds raised from this event will be a lifeline to students whose college education may be threatened by the recession,” said Diane Stephenson, UNCF’s area development director. “Thousands of UNCF students have seen family contributions reduced or eliminated due to job loss and pay cuts. The credit crunch has squeezed private student loans off the market. Many of these students won’t be able to graduate without additional financial aid. Because a college education can open so many doors, we must do what we can to assist students who have trouble meeting tuition costs.”

The UNCF supports thirty-nine colleges and universities nationally, including five in Texas: Paul Quinn College (Dallas), Texas College (Tyler), Jarvis Christian College (Hawkins), Wylie College (Marshall) and Huston-Tillotson (Austin). UNCF is the largest non-government provider of support to these schools.

Each of the five schools in Texas are private Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). As a result they were not eligible for funding from the American Recovery Reinvestment Act of 2009 commonly known as the Stimulus Package.

The majority of the money raised in Texas, stays in Texas according to Stephenson. Seventy-five percent of the monies are split among the five schools in Texas with the remaining 25 percent split among all 39 UNCF schools – with each of the Texas schools receiving monies from the pool of 25 percent.

During the 2008-2009 annual campaign, UNCF raised $18 million through their fundraising throughout the country. Donors from New York, California and Michigan provide significant contributions, despite having no member school in their state. Donors can request the funds be made available to students to attend non-member schools, because the organization’s primary mission is education. Last year UNCF awarded nearly $86 million to 9,936 students attending member HBCUs and more than 850 other institutions.

Up to 95 percent of the students at the member institutions require financial aid and 50 percent come form families earning less than $35,000 per year. The mission of UNCF is critical for these students, without the help of donor dollars, higher education and the opportunities it provides would be inaccessible to them.

These families were among those hardest hit by the economic downturn over the last year. Their parents faced reduced hours or layoffs, leaving seniors on the verge of graduation unable to pay the debt already incurred.

To address this problem the UNCF launched the Campaign for Emergency Student Aid with a goal of raising $5 million. The initiative was designed to help recession-impacted students enroll for their senior year and receive their college degree. According to recent announcements UNCF is approaching the midway point at over $2.3 million raised allowing them to assist over 1,200 students.

The monies raised are provided directly to the member schools, primarily to assist with their operating expenses. However, each institution determines their highest priorities and could elect to give more monies students in the form of scholarships.

In addition to providing funding to member schools, UNCF works in partnership with the institutions to strengthen them overall. They provide volunteer leadership training and technology tools. UNCF also helps with advocacy efforts, to aide in securing federal funding from Washington.

The selection of Ambassador Ron Kirk as the Keynote Speaker shines a spotlight on the importance of student’s preparation to engage and contribute in a global economy and workforce.

International students equal about two percent of the population at UNCF member schools. Locally, Paul Quinn College is planning to launch a program abroad that will require study abroad for one year.

The luncheon’s regional sponsor is AT&T and mayors from the local cities will serve as hosts. The program will include remarks from Arlington mayor Robert Cluck; Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert is participating via video conference; and currently it is unconfirmed if Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief will participate personally of if the Mayor Pro Tem will represent him.

Paul Quinn College will introduce Ambassador Kirk, and the Texas College choir is scheduled to perform during the lunch portion of the program.

Following the annual luncheon the next major event for UNCF is the Red, Hot and Snazzy Gala scheduled for February 27, 2010 in downtown Dallas.

Sponsorship opportunities start at $3,500. Reserved tables are $1,500. Individual tickets are $125. To order tickets call UNCF office (972) 234-1007.For more information and sponsorship opportunities, contact Diane Stephenson at diane.stephenson@uncf.org or visit www.uncf.org/dallas.

UNCF is seeking to raise a total of $5 million through individual, corporation and foundation donations to help thousands of students finish the fall semester and enroll for school in the spring. To date the Campaign has raised $2.3 million and helped more than 1,200 students pay their unpaid balances and graduate.

“Alliance Data’s contribution to UNCF’s Campaign for Emergency Student Aid is a lifeline to students whose college education is threatened by the recession,” said Michael L. Lomax, Ph.D., UNCF president and CEO. “Campaign for Emergency Student Aid is for the students. Thousands of students at UNCF member colleges have seen family contributions reduced or eliminated due to job loss and pay cuts. The credit crunch has squeezed private student loans off the market. Many of these students wouldn’t have been able to register this fall if Alliance Data hadn’t stepped up.”

Calvin Hilton, Alliance Data - VP Benefits and Human Resources (Photography credit: Grace Photography)

The $500,000 grant recently received from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation supported UNCF’s Emergency Student Aid Campaign. Half of the Mellon donation was a dollar-for-dollar challenge grant, which matched contributions to the Emergency Student Aid Campaign up to $250,000.

“Here in North Texas, we’re ready to take on the challenge of ensuring that kids from this area can pay their tuition, stay in school and graduate,” said UNCF Area Development Director Diane Stephenson. “Four-thousand kids from Texas are studying at UNCF colleges, working for their degrees. We owe it to them, and to all the 55,000 students at UNCF schools, to help them survive the recession and stay in school.”

Since its founding, UNCF has helped 350,000 students earn degrees from its 39 member colleges and universities. Today, 55,000 students attend UNCF member institutions each year.

Anyone wishing to support UNCF in its mission to help students earn their college degree, send your donation to UNCF – Attn: Campaign For Emergency Student Aid, 2800 Swiss Avenue, Dallas, TX 75204, or call 972-234-1007.

Gerald Albright will headline at the Jarvis Christian College Benefit Concert on Saturday October 10 at 7:30 p.m. at the Naomi Bruton Theatre. The college is a member of the United Negro College Fund network.

Albright, the 2009 Grammy Award nominee for Best Pop Instrumental Album, grew up in South Central Los Angeles. Albright received a B.S. degree in Business Management, where he also minored in Music.

Immediately after college, Albright began to master his talent by working extensively in the studio with such artists as Patrice Rushen, Anita Baker, Ray Parker, Jr., Lola Folana, Atlantic Starr, The Winans, Olivia Newton-John, The Temptations, and Maurice White. He also toured with Teena Marie, Debra and Eloise Laws, Quincy Jones, Whitney Houston, Phil Collins, and many others.

Albright’s contemporary and straight-ahead collections have established the Los Angeles-based musician as one of the most prominent artists. He has sold over 1,000,000 albums in the U.S. alone. His self-produced music features him on bass guitar, keyboards, flutes, drum programming, and background vocals. Albright has definitely earned the reputation as the “musician’s musician.” With nine CDs under his belt and one collaboration CD, Albright has definitely gained his place in the music world as a player, songwriter and producer.

Albright believes in giving back to the community, his performance at this UNCF fundraiser is just one in a long line of philanthropic efforts. He has participated in numerous fund-raisers for the NAACP, The American Cancer Society, and The Institute for Black Parenting. As a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, he constantly donates his talents to raise funds to promote academic excellence nationwide.

Besides music, Albright is also a family man. He is married to his junior high school sweetheart, Glynis, and has two children, Selina and Brandon.

Tickets for the October 10 benefit concert are $65, available by calling 214-743-2400. The Naomi Bruton Theatre is located at the corner of Canton and Akard Streets as a part of the Dallas Convention Center Theater Complex