FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON, DC (September 7, 2018) – The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) announces today the launch of the TMCF Fleischer HBCU Scholars Program that helps high school students transition from high school through college and into the workforce. The program, which will be piloted on three campuses — Fayetteville State University, Texas Southern University, and Virginia State University – is made possible by a three-year $1.8 million grant award from Strada Education Network.
The new program aims to create an early talent program that identifies high-achieving high school students, equips them to make informed college and career choices through professional and leadership development activities, and positions them for successful careers with employers. It also will increase the capacity of TMCF member-schools to attract top-performing high school students.
“We see this groundbreaking program as a true capacity-building opportunity for our member-schools, said Dr. Harry L. Williams, TMCF president & CEO. “The TMCF Fleischer HBCU Scholars Program will provide the pilot schools with tools and technology to bolster recruitment efforts and hopefully achieve the same level of success as the original Fleischer program.”
Mr. Morton Fleischer, Fleischer Scholars Program founder, said: “When my wife and I created the Fleischer Program in 2009 to help qualified students from economically fragile communities, we had no idea how successful it would become. Seeing our program expand into HBCUs through this investment from Strada to TMCF will no doubt create a multiplier effect where these scholars transform into business leaders making a significant impact in our communities.”
“One of Strada’s top philanthropic priorities is to support and scale student success programs that work in preparation to pursuing successful career pathways,” said Bill Hansen, President and CEO, Strada Education Network. “We’re honored to partner with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund to build on the impressive success of the Fleischer program and replicate it to benefit thousands more high school students in their transition to attend our country’s leading HBCUs.”
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ABOUT THE THURGOOD MARSHALL COLLEGE FUND (TMCF)
Established in 1987, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (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 PK-12 and higher education space. The organization is also the source of top employers seeking top talent for competitive internships and good jobs.
TMCF is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, charitable organization. For more information about TMCF, visit:tmcf.org.
ABOUT STRADA EDUCATION NETWORK
Strada Education Network℠ is a national nonprofit dedicated to improving lives by catalyzing more direct and promising pathways between education and employment. We engage partners across education, nonprofits, business and government to focus relentlessly on students’ success throughout all phases of their working lives. Together, we address critical college to career challenges through strategic philanthropy, research and insights, and mission-aligned affiliates — all focused on advancing the universal right to realized potential we call Completion With a Purpose®. Learn more at StradaEducation.org.
