The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) has undertaken a $5 million emergency fundraising campaign to aid hundreds of financially strapped seniors at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) who are in immediate danger of not graduating.

"They have hit the economic wall and have nowhere else to turn," said Pearl Algere-Lonian, director of financial aid at Xavier University of Louisiana.
The UNCF grants, about $1,600 per student, can determine whether the students become dropouts or degree holders, and with over 50 percent of the country’s Black professionals graduating from HBCUs, the organization says that it needs more donors.
"A college diploma really can change the life of a student. That's what the CESA program is designed to do: to let corporations, foundations, churches and individuals know that their gift is a gift of graduation! That's a powerful message," said John Donohue, executive vice president at UNCF.
To learn more about the UNCF's Campaign for Emergency Student Aid or to make a donation, please visit http://give.uncf.org/cesa.
    

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