Washington, DC (December 18, 2015) – The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) received $500,000 from the Coca-Cola Foundation to provide scholarships to students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), announced TMCF President & CEO Johnny C. Taylor, Jr.
Nine HBCUs were selected to receive grants to provide four-year scholarships for first-generation students matriculating on their campuses. Besides being enrolled full-time, students who receive these scholarships must have a GPA of 2.8 (4.0 scale); be in good standing in their respective institution; demonstrate a financial need; and, be the first in their immediate family to attend college.
Lori Billingsley, Vice President, Community Relations for The Coca-Cola Company, says education is an extremely important and strong pillar of its sustainability efforts. “We see it as a key contributor to socio-economic development, and we encourage and support educational programs for students of all ages, nationalities and ethnicities, and those in need of financial assistance,” says Billingsley.
TMCF has been a leader in developing diverse workforces and future leaders of tomorrow – helping more students advance in their education and unlock job opportunities. Grant funding and individual giving enables TMCF to continue to build programs that help students get the most from their education and provide opportunities for them to become part of a new generation of global leaders. Recently, TMCF and The Coca-Cola Company presented checks to Alabama A&M University, Alabama State University, Bethune Cookman University, Johnson C. Smith University, Mississippi Valley State University, Southern University, South Carolina University, Texas Southern University, and Tuskegee University.
“The increased costs of college coupled with diminishing grants and tougher federal student loan requirements, make donations like this all the more important as we continue to help students get to and through college,” Taylor said. “The Coca-Cola Foundation has been a long-standing supporter of TMCF, investing over $2 million in HBCUs, and this partnership demonstrates their commitment to higher education for all students.”
ABOUT THE THURGOOD MARSHALL COLLEGE FUND (TMCF)
TMCF is named for the U.S. Supreme Court’s first African-American Justice. Established in 1987, TMCF supports and represents nearly 300,000 students attending its 47 member-schools that include publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), medical schools and law schools. Through its scholarships and programs, TMCF plays a key role in preparing the leaders of tomorrow. For more information on TMCF scholarships and programs, visit tmcf.org.