The United Negro College Fund has done it again! A celebration of 75 years of greatness led into a bash of charitable accomplishments.
"A Mind Is..." Summer Benefit Gala kicked off in New York last Saturday (Aug. 3) as it honored Sharlee Jeter, Vice President of Strategy and Development at Jeter Ventures and R. Donahue Peebles, the CEO of real estate investment firm, The Peebles Corporation. Recognizing their strives to promote the value of education introduced their success in raising over $350,000 for students to attend historically black colleges and universities.
Kathy Hughes, founder of Urban One, welcomed R. Donahue saying:
“Don has single-handedly replicated himself thousands of times over by embracing underprivileged youth, encouraging them and instilling in them the desire to do whatever they have the potential to do.”
The grand amount was given to the UNCF, along with a check from New York Comptroller Thomas DeNapoli for $60,000. The donation was gathered due to "unclaimed funds from the state," according to Bossip.
Previous scholarship recipient Kristen Gordon expressed the impact UNCF's generosity has had on her life by graduating from Spelman College.
“Within time, I was awarded the ability to finish my journey at a place I had learned to call home. Without this scholarship, I honestly do not know if I would have been able to stand in front you all as a graduate of the number one HBCU in the world!”
Photo: United Negro College Fund / Joseph Allen