LINCOLN UNIVERSITY – Lincoln University has received an initial endowment of $50,000 from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® in partnership with the AKA Educational Advancement Foundation®.
“We would like to thank the women of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. for investing in our university,” said Lincoln University President Brenda A. Allen. “This $50,000 will go a long way in establishing an endowment that will allow us to give grants to our students to help them to matriculate uninterrupted through Lincoln and into their careers.”
Allen said that for every $1,000 in grant aid provided to a Lincoln student, the odds of that student graduating increase by about 20 percent.
“With this generous gift, we will be able to incorporate these grants into our students’ aid packages so that they can be educated and empowered to lead their communities and change the world.”
The donation comes on the heels of the sorority’s recent third annual HBCU Impact Day initiative where more than $1.5 million was raised in one day for the support of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Last year, AKA began the process of donating to HBCUs through the AKA-HBCU Endowment Fund to donate $10 million within four years. The sorority gifted $1.6 million to the first 32 of 96 HBCUs at a ceremony held at AKA’s International headquarters in Chicago. Each HBCU received $50,000 in unrestricted endowment funds as part of a phased approach to help schools reduce student debt through scholarships, fund industry-specific research, recruit and retain top faculty, and other critical operations.
Dr. Glenda Glover, AKA International President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “Given the current economic state of our world, in which we are dealing with a global health pandemic and widespread injustice against people of color, now more than ever is the time for historically Black sororities, fraternities, and other HBCU supporters to step up and be of service to our historic institutions of higher education.”
“I know first-hand the immense challenges HBCUs are facing during this time of uncertainty,” added Dr. Glover, who is also the president of Tennessee State University and an HBCU graduate. “However, I also know that these institutions are resilient and resourceful, which is why Alpha Kappa Alpha is fully committed to investing in our HBCUs and preserving their educational legacy for generations to come.”
While HBCUs have gotten much more favorable attention in the press over the past few months, COVID-19 continues to adversely affect most colleges and universities. Many HBCUs have adjusted to the challenges of educating through a global health pandemic, but financial support is still needed to help maintain daily operations.
Although HBCU Impact Day has passed, Alpha Kappa Alpha is still accepting donations to support the AKA-HBCU Endowment Fund’s 10 million dollar goal. Interested donors can make contributions by texting AKAHBCU to 44321, giving by mail or online at https://donate.akaeaf.org/pages/HBCU_Community_Impact_Day. For more information on the AKA Educational Advancement Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, and the sorority’s commitment to HBCUs and the endowment fund visit www.AKAEAF.org.
