The president & CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) received the Unsung Hero award during the Orange Blossom Classic in Miami Gardens, Florida. Dr. Harry L. Williams, TMCF president & CEO, accepted the honor and provided remarks.
He noted how historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) created the Black middle class and without these institutions, there would be no Black doctors, lawyers, scientists, engineers and more.
“As an organization that advocates for and supports historically Black colleges and universities and the students who attend them, we see the need for scholarship dollars every day,” Dr. Williams said. “During our most recent scholarship cycle, we’ve awarded more than $21 million to approximately 3,000 students.”
Dr. Williams said he was honored to have a role in keeping that legacy going.
“As I accept this award, I want to share how genuinely excited I am to lead an organization like the Thurgood Marshall College Fund,” he said. “Every single day, I get to witness lives being changed. I see students who, because of scholarships, internships and mentorships, can achieve their dreams. I see families who swell with pride as the first in their household crosses the graduation stage.”
This year’s Orange Blossom Classic features the teams that played in the inaugural game in 1933, Howard University and Florida A&M University, both TMCF member schools.
