The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) and The Coca-Cola Foundation partnered to donate $50,000 to Fayetteville State University (FSU) that will be used for scholarships for first-generation college students. A check was presented on Saturday, January 20, 2018 during the televised FSU versus Livingstone College basketball game.
Presenting the check to FSU was Andrea Horton, Vice President of Programs for TMCF, and Allie Butler, Marketing Asset Manager, Colleges and Universities; and Bradley Bennett, On Premise Sales Representative, representing Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated. Receiving the check on behalf of FSU were Chancellor James Anderson, and Damien Williams, Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement.
“I am grateful to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and The Coca-Cola Foundation for their support of our students,” Anderson said. “Both of these organizations have been long-time supporters of higher education and their continued commitment speaks volumes of their desire to see students graduate from college and become contributing members of society. The FSU family is thankful for their generosity.”
TMCF is the nation’s largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community. TMCF member-schools include the publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Predominantly Black Institutions, enrolling nearly 80% of all students attending black colleges and universities. Through scholarships, capacity building and research initiatives, innovative programs and strategic partnerships, TMCF is a vital resource in the K-12 and higher education space. The organization is also the source of top employers seeking top talent for competitive internships and good jobs.
To date, the organization has awarded more than $300 million in such assistance to its students and member-schools. TMCF also distributes 98% of its awards exclusively to HBCUs and PBIs, which is more than any other organization that supports the Black College Community.
“We are able to make our TMCF slogan “Where Education Pays Off,” a reality because of outstanding long-time partners like The Coca-Cola Foundation, said Dr. Harry L. Williams, TMCF president & CEO. “We are proud of this partnership and honored to continue to invest in first-generation college students at FSU through this scholarship.
Since its inception in 1984, The Coca-Cola Foundation has given back more than $820 million to enhance the sustainability of local communities worldwide. The foundation is Coca-Cola’s primary international philanthropic arm. The Foundation was established in the U.S. as a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Fayetteville State University is a constituent institution of The University of North Carolina and the second-oldest public institution of higher education in the state. FSU offers degrees at the baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral levels. With more than 6,200 students, Fayetteville State University is among the most diverse institutions in the nation.
Source: Greater Diversity News
