United Negro College Fund participating in Day of Giving

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX/WTTE) — ABC 6 is teaming up with UNCF, United Negro College Fund, for a Day of Giving.

It's the first time UNCF has ever had a Day of Giving. Due to COVID-19, many of the organization's yearly events were canceled or made virtual. Now, they are turning to the community to continue their efforts of sending students to colleges and universities. Donations also provide aid to students, who right now, are struggling because of the coronavirus.

For more than 75 years, UNCF has been able to support thousands of students.

“In the state of Ohio, last year, we gave over $1.3 million in scholarships,” said Steve Miller, the Development Director at UNCF. “About half a million dollars of that was just for Columbus.”

UNCF has provided more than five billion dollars of scholarship and student support for its 37 member institutions, 103 historically black colleges, and more than 1,2000 other colleges. The UNCF scholarships are based on need and merit.

“It’s given me the ability to continue my college education,” said Brianna Booker, a UNCF scholarship recipient. “Money is always a big issue, especially during this pandemic.”

Brianna Booker is a junior at Prairie View A&M University in Texas. She said, without UNCF, she likely wouldn’t be able to pursue her education.

“After college, I plan to go to law school. I would like to become a civil rights attorney,” said Booker.

Fellow UNCF scholar, Nathan Harris, can relate.

“It showed me nothing was impossible to do. I was able to go to Morehouse College for four years, as well as study abroad in Cape Town, South Africa,” said Nathan Harris, UNCF scholarship recipient.

Harris is now in the final year of his Ph.D. program. The soon-to-be engineer wants to give back to those, who like him, didn’t always know how college would be an option.

“They belong in STEM, even though the landscape might not particularly look like them,” said Harris. “Their voice matters in that space, and they can put that brilliant mind to use.”

Booker said the Day of Giving donations will help evolve UNCF and future generations.

“College can help to become the people you needed when you were younger,” said Booker.

UNCF’s Day of Giving will start at 5:00 am Thursday and go until 11:30 pm. You can give by texting UNCF24 to 41444. You can also give to UNCF’s Virtual Walk for Education. The Walk for Education is a big event for UNCF, and was moved to a virtual event because of COVID-19.