This Day in History: United Negro College Fund Incorporated

by

United Negro College Fund headquarters building in Washington, D.C.
The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) headquarters in Washington, D.C., symbolizes the organization’s legacy of expanding access to higher education for Black students. Incorporated on April 25, 1944, the UNCF has supported students at historically Black colleges and universities for over 80 years. By Farragutful - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
Reading Time: < 1 minute

On April 25, 1944, one of the nation’s most vital philanthropic institutions, the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), was incorporated. Founded by Frederick D. Patterson, then president of Tuskegee University, along with Mary McLeod Bethune and others, the UNCF has awarded hundreds of millions in scholarships to help Black attend private historically Black colleges and universities.

In 1972, it adopted the iconic motto, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste,” one of the most recognized slogans in advertising. For 25 years, its fundraising was boosted by the Lou Rawls Parade of Stars, a televised telethon hosted by the late singer.


Click play to listen to the AURN News report from Clay Cane. Follow @claycane & @aurnonline for more.

AURN Podcast Network


advanced divider
advanced divider

NEWS