CHICAGO, Sept. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- For the
fourth consecutive year, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority,
Incorporated® will earmark on a progressive goal to
raise $1 million in 24 hours for
their national HBCU Impact Day initiative. Set for
Monday, September 20, 2021, the
annual fundraiser is a part of the sorority's four-year,
$10 million commitment to
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) led by AKA
International President and CEO Dr. Glenda
Glover. The organization's more than 300,000
college-educated members, corporate partners, and donors are
challenged to make contributions to assist with the ongoing fiscal
sustainability and operations of the more than 100 HBCUs around the
country.
"The contributions of HBCUs can no longer be overlooked. Just look
to the White House or the United States Congress."
Dr. Glover, who is also president of Tennessee State University and an HBCU graduate,
says while HBCUs are currently experiencing a renaissance that has
brought about a new level of awareness, more must be done for their
survival and long-term sustainability.
"Despite the recent national attention given to HBCUs in 2021
and incremental state and federal funding, HBCUs still lag far
behind other institutions of higher education when it comes to
ongoing and sustainable support," adds Dr. Glover.
In 2021, the sorority gifted $1.6
million to 35 eligible four-year HBCUs. The endowments
on these campuses will grow in perpetuity and help schools reduce
student debt through scholarships, fund industry-specific research,
and provide much-needed infrastructure maintenance. Those funds are
proving to be extremely crucial during the current climate in
higher education.
HBCUs continue to be under-funded and now have an added burdened
of operational challenges with the impact of the ever evolving
COVID-19 pandemic.
"Now more than ever is the time for Alpha Kappa Alpha to step
up, as we have done for more than 113 years, along with our
partners and continue our call to action for our historic
institutions of higher education," Glover contends. "The
contributions of HBCUs can no longer be overlooked or minimized.
Just look to the White House or the United States Congress. HBCUs
account for nearly 25% of bachelor's degrees granted to African
Americans. I cannot imagine a world without HBCUs, but I can
imagine how much stronger the world would be if we all supported
the HBCU community."
Members and supporters have surpassed the $1 million goal for the past three years. Last
year's Impact Day raised $1.3 million
in 2020.
HBCU Impact Day is part of the sorority's recognition of HBCU
Week. On September 20, chapters
around the globe will host fundraising events in support of the
$1 million fundraising goal.
Interested donors can make contributions by giving by mail or
online at http://donate.akaeaf.org during the 24-hour
campaign. For more information on the sorority's commitment
to HBCUs, visit www.AKA1908.com
About Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated (AKA) is an international
service organization that was founded on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. in 1908. It is the oldest
Greek-letter organization established by African-American,
college-educated women. Alpha Kappa Alpha is comprised of over
300,000 members in more than 1,000 graduate and undergraduate
chapters in the United States, the
U.S. Virgin Islands, Liberia, Bahamas, Bermuda, the Caribbean, Canada, Japan, Germany, South
Korea, South Africa, and in
the Middle East. Led by
International President and Chief Executive Officer, Glenda Glover
Ph.D., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated is often
hailed as "America's premier Greek-letter organization for
African-American women." Visit www.aka1908.com for
more information.
About the AKA Educational Advancement Foundation
Over 40 years ago, the Educational Advancement Foundation was
established by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. to promote lifelong
learning. It is now the largest minority-owned women's
foundation in the country with assets totaling over $22.7 million. The foundation has donated
over $6.5 million for scholarships,
fellowships, and community assistance grants and is an organization
with a rich and distinguished history of service that spans nearly
a century. Creating the Educational Advancement Foundation
was the method by which Alpha Kappa Alpha. Inc. sought to ensure
that there would always be support for education, its oldest
program of service. Today, the Foundation, a financially
strong and viable organization, is a powerful tool for good,
pooling the resources of others who share this vision of providing
a perpetual source of support for education.
Alpha Kappa Alpha implements an AKA HBCU Endowment Initiative in
partnership with EAF, in which an endowed scholarship will be
established at each accredited four-year HBCU. The goal is to
stamp the Alpha Kappa Alpha brand of financial support on each HBCU
campus to help students remain in school, complete their course of
study, and receive their college degrees. For more information
about the Educational Advancement Foundation, please
visit www.akaeaf.org.
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SOURCE Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.