UNCF to host 4th Annual “A Mind Is...”® Smooth Jazz Concert Gala, supporting HBCUs and Students
13 August 2024 - 4:25AM
As a major event during our yearlong 80th anniversary celebration,
UNCF (United Negro College Fund) will host its 4th annual UNCF
Richmond “A Mind Is...”® Smooth Jazz Concert Gala at 6:00 p.m.,
Friday, Sept. 27, 2024 at the Historic Hippodrome Theater. Nearly
150 corporate partners, educators, religious leaders and community
influencers from across Virginia are expected to attend.For 80
years, UNCF has strived to change the historically Black college
and university (HBCU) narrative across the nation by equipping more
HBCU students with the resources necessary to transition into
college, graduate and ultimately establish careers that will build
better futures for our society. UNCF is excited to celebrate this
milestone anniversary and would like to acknowledge and thank the
Coca-Cola Company, a Founding Sponsor, and Target, Presenting
Sponsor.
“Since we were founded in 1944, UNCF has fueled HBCUs with vital
resources to educate generations of African American and other
minority students,” said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO,
UNCF.
“This year marks our 80th anniversary. Our theme is ‘Honoring
the Legacy, Transforming our Future.’ We will acknowledge and
celebrate our founders, donors and philanthropic partners over the
last eight decades. And we will be encouraging and transforming the
next generation through education to achieve greater successes for
our community and this nation. UNCF and HBCUs matter now more than
ever as our students and institutions need ongoing support. I
encourage you to invest in UNCF so together we can invest in and
build future generations of Black college students who will lead
this nation and contribute to our economy. Events like the UNCF
Richmond “A Mind Is...”® Smooth Jazz Concert Gala help us do just
that,” said Lomax.Sponsors and partners include DuPont, Virginia
Union University, media partner Urban Views Weekly RVA and many
others.To be recognized will be the following 2024 honorees: UNCF
Keeper of the Flame Award (Community) – the Honorable Vanessa Reese
Crawford; Frederick D. Patterson Award (Education) – Dr. Kathy
Franklin, Virginia University-Lynchburg; Corporate Partner Award
(Business) – DuPont, Chemical Company; and Legacy Award – Richard
A. Waller, Jr., Waller & Company Jewelers.“Our goal is to be
able to provide every local underrepresented student with the funds
they need to support their college education and promote awareness
of UNCF across the state,” said Dana Brown, Area Development
Director.With the help of the Virginia community, $1.75 million was
awarded last year in scholarships and programs benefitting students
attending UNCF-member HBCUs including Virginia Union University and
other colleges and universities. Entertainment will be provided by
Jazzy Blu; based out of Washington D.C. with a jazzy neo-soulful
sound enriched by the traditional jazz tones of years past. The
event will also feature a cocktail reception, red carpet photo ops,
elegant dining, silent auction and a Fund a Mission Appeal.For more
information and ticket or sponsorship opportunities, please go to
UNCF.org/RichmondJazz or contact Dana Brown or Dianna Ruffin at
804.359.1581 or by email at dana.brown@uncf.org or
dianna.ruffin@uncf.org. To stay connected to UNCF throughout the
year, please visit UNCF.org/events. You can also follow this event
@VAUNCF #UNCF #UNCFVA on social media.
###
About UNCFUNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the
nation’s largest and most effective minority
education organization. During its 80-year existence,
UNCF has raised more than $5 billion and helped more than
500,000 students not just attend college, but thrive, graduate and
become leaders. To serve youth, the community and the nation,
UNCF supports students’ education and development through
scholarships and other programs, supports and strengthens its 37
member colleges and universities, and advocates for the
importance of minority education and
college readiness. While totaling only 3% of all colleges
and universities, UNCF institutions and other historically Black
colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 15% of
bachelor’s degrees, 5% of master’s degrees, 10% of doctoral degrees
and 19% of all STEM degrees earned by Black students in higher
education. UNCF administers more than 400 programs,
including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer
enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs.
Today, UNCF supports more than 50,000 students at over 1,100
colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the
UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely
recognized trademark, ‟A mind is a terrible thing to
waste.”® Learn more at UNCF.org or
for continuous updates and news, follow UNCF on Twitter
at @UNCF.
Roy Betts
UNCF
2407033384
roy.betts@uncf.org
Dana Brown
UNCF Virginia
804.359.1581
dana.brown@uncf.org