UNCF to host 2025 “A Mind Is…”® New England Gala
Signature fundraiser benefiting HBCUs and deserving students will honor exceptional champions for their inspiring contributions to education and community
UNCF will host its annual 2025 “A Mind Is…”® New England Gala on March 13, 2025 at the Seaport Hotel Boston. More than 300 guests are expected to attend, including UNCF leadership, corporate partners, educators, community leaders and alumni and scholars from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU).
For more than 80 years, UNCF has strived to change the HBCU narrative across the nation by equipping more HBCU students with the resources necessary to transition into college, graduate and ultimately expand and diversify America’s highly educated workforce. The “A Mind Is…”® New England Gala helps UNCF achieve the needed resources to do just that.
UNCF will present the following awards at the event: the corporate partner award to Santander Bank for its support of UNCF and the transformative impact it has on HBCU students from New England and beyond; the leadership award to Adage Capital Management, L.P. for its forward-thinking strategies and partnership with UNCF to ensure deserving students have the access, tools and resources needed to propel them on an upward trajectory in the asset management and financial services industries; and the trailblazer award to Valerie Mosely, founder and Chief Visionary Officer, BrightUp, for blazing a pathway for others to follow in the asset management industry and her unwavering commitment to empowering students from historically underrepresented communities. We are grateful to once again have our very own Massachusetts native and Spelman College alumna Shayna Seymour, co-anchor of WCVB-TV Channel 5’s Chronicle, as our mistress of ceremonies.
“As America deals with a very unprecedented time in our history, historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and graduates from underserved communities continue to show their value to the nation’s economic growth,” said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO, UNCF. “HBCUs are major economic engines growing our national economy and the prosperity of state and local communities. Yet, they remain systemically underfunded, and their students must fight to gain access to the same benefits that others take for granted. Your support is needed more than ever to help talented, deserving students to get to and through college. I encourage you to invest in UNCF so, together, we can empower our next generation who will lead this nation and contribute to society’s success. Events like the ‘A Mind Is…’® New England Gala help us all succeed.”
Proceeds from the gala will help support UNCF-member HBCUs and college students who are in need of financial assistance to achieve degree completion.
“As UNCF enters its ninth decade of service, we stand on the shoulders of countless allies who have championed the power of HBCUs and higher education for students from historically underrepresented communities,” said Arleaya Martin, area director of development, New England, UNCF. “We are deeply grateful for the continued partnership of leaders like Santander Bank, Adage Capital Management, L.P., Valerie Mosely and our supporters who believe in the transformative impact of these institutions and the students we serve.”
Current sponsors of the gala include gold sponsors Adage Capital Management, L.P.; Delta Air Lines; Santander Bank; The Kraft Group, LLC; and Wellington Management Company; silver sponsors The Baupost Group and The TJX Companies, Inc.; and bronze sponsor JPMorgan Chase & Co.
For more information and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Arleaya Martin at arleaya.martin@uncf.org or 617-227-0937.
If you are unable to attend but want to make a difference in a student’s life, please visit UNCF.org/newenglandgala to donate today. To stay connected to UNCF’s initiatives in New England throughout the year, please visit UNCF.org/boston. You can also follow this event via #UNCF and @UNCFBOS on social media.
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About UNCF
UNCF is the nation’s largest and most effective advocate and supporter of higher education for students from moderate to low-income communities. Since its founding in 1944, UNCF has raised more than $6 billion to support students’ access to higher education, provide scholarships, and strengthen historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Each year, UNCF supports more than 50,000 students at more than 1,100 colleges and universities across the country including 37 UNCF-member HBCUs. Through its efforts, UNCF has helped countless students achieve their dreams of a college education and has played a vital role in fortifying the pipeline of leaders and professionals who contribute to the advancement of our society. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized trademark is, ‟A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”® Learn more at UNCF.org or for continuous updates and news, follow UNCF on Instagram.