Earlier this month the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) hosted its 32nd Anniversary Awards Gala in Washington, DC. The Gala’s purpose is to raise money to continue to provide scholarships to students that attend an Historically Black College or University (HBCU). The goal was to raise at least $100 thousand by the end of the night but instead over $1.6 million was raised. Chief Executive Officer for Ally Financial, Jeffrey Brown, was honored at the Gala as the CEO of the Year Award Recipient. As he accepted his speech, he surprised the room with a $1.5 million check for TMCF. Three days after the gala TMCF announced they had raised more than $5.8 million to contribute to the education of HBCU students.
The Gala took place during TMCF’s leadership institute (LI) where students from partnering HBCU’s are selected to partake in a week-long leadership development conference where they are exposed to the nation’s top corporate and government senior executives through panels and workshops. Throughout the leadership Institute students can secure jobs and internships with the corporations. Abyssinia Flores who is a TMCF Scholar says, “I had a few offers so I’m excited.” When asked how important Thurgood Marshall College Fund is to HBCU students she says, “On a scale of one to ten it’s a thousand. Thurgood Marshall has helped me so much and it’s given me so many opportunities.”
TV Host and Actor, Terrence J, was the host of the gala. He also serves as the TMCF National Ambassador and was a TMCF Scholar when he was in college. “I’m a product of a historically black college and university and I’m here to support those students and try to help raise some money,” says Terrence. The night was serenaded by Grammy nominated and DC native, Kenny Lattimore. “I know people that have directly benefitted from the foundation’s support, so it was a natural fit for me,” says Kenny. Although the next TMCF Awards Gala isn’t until next fall the fund takes donations throughout the entire year at TMCF.org/give.
