USA Funds Helps UNCF Raise More Than $455,300

More than 800 supporters attended the United Negro College Fund’s fifth-annual “An Evening of Stars” Gala Nov. 30 in Indianapolis. USA Funds^® served as presenting sponsor, and Carl Dalstrom, USA Funds president and CEO, was corporate chairman of the gala for the fourth year.

The event raised a record-setting total of more than $455,300 to support the 39 UNCF-member colleges and universities and more than 65,000 students across the United States. The amount raised represents the most raised by the “An Evening of Stars” Gala since it began in 2003.

For the sixth-consecutive year, USA Funds provided a $100,000 grant to UNCF for scholarships. Dalstrom presented the check to Andrea Neely, UNCF area development director for Indiana, and James Alston, UNCF senior vice president, northern field operations, at the event.

“This grant will continue to assist the more then 267 Indiana students who attend one of the member schools, as well as other students across the country, realize their dream,” says Neely. 

UNCF is the nation’s oldest minority-education-assistance organization and works to close the educational-attainment gap between African Americans and the majority population. Since 1944 UNCF has raised more than $2.5 billion to promote higher-education achievement and has helped more than 350,000 students earn undergraduate and graduate degrees.

For the past four years, USA Funds has assisted with the “An Evening of Stars” Gala at the highest support level. In addition to the $100,000 direct contribution toward scholarships, USA Funds dedicated an additional $100,000 to serve as presenting sponsor and providing other support to the fundraising event.

“Our support of UNCF is in line with our mission of ensuring that all qualified students have access to postsecondary education,” says Dalstrom. “Minority students are expected to account for 80 percent of the growth in the college-going population during this decade, so now, more than ever, it’s important to ensure that these students have the financial means necessary to pursue a postsecondary education.”

Several other organizations also took an active role in contributing to the UNCF. Vice chairs for the gala — Thomas Brown of United Water, Randall Lewis of WellPoint, Cheryl Watson of Nelnet, and June McCormack of Sallie Mae — helped organize the event. Additionally, Lilly Endowment offered a one-to-one match for dollars raised by new individual, club, church and organization donors.

“All of our organizations, whether for-profit, nonprofit, private-sector or governmental, need skilled and educated employees, so all of the organizations involved in this event share a common interest of encouraging postsecondary-education attainment,” says Dalstrom. “Higher-education attainment is vital to a strong economic future, so we must continue to work together to strengthen access and ensure a better-educated work force.”

USA Funds has awarded $100,000 each to the American Indian College Fund, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, the Asian Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund in addition to the scholarship grant to UNCF, as part of its commitment to minority-focused-scholarship organizations.

Additionally, USA Funds provided support to recent fund-raising events for a number of other scholarship organizations focused on assisting minority students.