Alpha Kappa Alpha, the first Greek-lettered sorority established by African American college women—and sorority of presidential candidate Kamala Harris, has pledged $1.6 million to HBCUs.
The sorority has established the AKA-HBCU Endowment Fund in partnership with the Educational Advancement Foundation (EAF). Over the next decade, the fund will distribute $10M to 96 schools.
From a press release from the sorority:
On February 28, 2019, presidents from 32 of the participating HBCUs will receive the first installment of the endowment gift in the amount of $50,000 at the Alpha Kappa Alpha International Headquarters in Chicago, Illinois
“As an HBCU graduate and someone who has dedicated my life’s work to the HBCU community, I personally know that the financial challenges of many institutions have an impact on student enrollment, retention, and graduation rates,” said Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. International President Dr. Glenda Glover via the press release. “Implementing an endowment fund is a critical need and has been a priority for my administration since I took office last year. Alpha Kappa Alpha’s 111-year history is deeply interwoven into the history of HBCUs and therefore it is imperative that we continue to invest in these treasured institutions.”
The 32 participating schools include:
Albany State University
Alcorn State University
American Baptist College
Bennett College for Women
Chicago State University
Coppin State University
Fayetteville State University
Florida Memorial University
Fort Valley State University
Grambling State University
Harris-Stowe State University
Le Moyne-Owen College
Lincoln University
Livingstone College
Miles College
Mississippi Valley State University
Norfolk State University
North Carolina Central University
Philander Smith College
Savannah State University
Shaw University
South Carolina State University
Southern University at New Orleans
St. Augustine’s University
Stillman College
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Voorhees College
West Virginia State University
Wilberforce University
Wiley College
Paul Quinn College
Edward Waters College
HBCUs have been struggling for funding. In December 2018, Bennett College for Women lost its accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) due to its inability to remain financially stable. Pizza corporation Papa John’s recently donated $500,000 to the school. At least six HBCUs have closed since 1988 due to financial reasons.