UNCF Houston
“A mind is a terrible thing to waste, but a wonderful thing to invest in.”® Why not invest your time or money in better futures for young people in southern Texas, New Mexico and around the country?
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Donor Spotlight: Champions of Opportunity
AMI Society Pinning at the ‘A Mind Is…®’ Houston Gala. (L to R) Therese Badon, Senior Vice President, Southern, UNCF; Zarinah K. Poole, Area Development Director, Houston, UNCF; Diana White; and Elijah White.
Elijah and Diana White
Longtime partners of UNCF South Texas – Houston, this couple’s giving journey began with a simple invitation to support the UNCF Walk for Education. He is a retired ExxonMobil leader, and she is a University of Houston professor dedicated to shaping future scholars.
They served as Chairs of the 2017 UNCF ‘A Mind Is…’ Gala – Houston and most recently contributed to the 2025 Gala, continuing their impactful legacy.
Their philosophy: “Every contribution matters. When we support students, we shape the future.”
Host a UNCF Sunday or Day of Worship For generations, churches have been pillars of support for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), helping to uplift students through faith, community, and education.
The UNCF Interfaith & Education Initiative honors this legacy by partnering with houses of worship nationwide to raise critical scholarship funds and inspire the next generation of church leaders, ministers, and engaged members of faith communities.
Join us in this mission by hosting a UNCF Sunday or Day of Worship at your church. It’s a powerful opportunity to celebrate faith, education, and service—all while making a tangible difference in the lives of students striving for a brighter future.
Ready to get involved? Email Christy Salinas at Christy.Salinas@UNCF.org to learn more about how your congregation can take part.
The 16th Annual UNCF San Antonio Leaders’ Luncheon, held on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at the beautiful Red Berry Estate, was a truly memorable afternoon of purpose and possibility! We are deeply grateful to everyone who joined us to celebrate and support UNCF’s mission of building a strong workforce pipeline of college graduates and expanding educational opportunities for talented students across our region. Surrounded by San Antonio’s business, civic, and community leaders, we were proud to honor Arca Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages and The McCombs Foundation for their extraordinary commitment to education and student success. Together, we came together to reaffirm our shared belief in the power of education to transform lives and strengthen our community.
Thank You for an Incredible Night!
To everyone who attended the 36th annual “A Mind Is…”Gala—thank you. Because of you, this year’s celebration was a tremendous success. We are still glowing from the unforgettable entertainment, the delicious food, and, most importantly, the powerful sense of community that filled the room. Seeing so many of our supporters come together in support of UNCF’s mission truly made the evening extraordinary.
Browse the event highlights in our photo gallery here: UNCFGala 2025 + Right Time Solutions by Right Time Solutions.
Thank you again for standing with us, for believing in brighter futures, and for showing that you stand proudly with UNCF in declaring that “a mind is a terrible thing to waste.”
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 40th Anniversary UNCF Walk/Bike/Run for Education, proudly presented by Shell USA, Inc., on September 13, 2025.
This extraordinary event aimed to raise $270,000 for underrepresented students across South Texas who are striving to get to and through college. It brought together nearly 50 teams who participated by walking, running, and cycling—all in honor of UNCF, our students, and historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
Houston Mayor Pro Tem Martha Castex-Tatum served as Honorary Chair, emphasizing the importance of scholarships in helping students achieve their college dreams. Harris County Precinct One Commissioner Rodney Ellis led the event as grand marshal, kicking off the day with a spirited bike ride. Their leadership set a tone of energy and inspiration that carried throughout the morning. Most importantly, this event would not have been possible without over 200 volunteers from the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, LyondellBasell, Jack and Jill’s, Top Teens, several churches, and individuals from the community who managed logistics and ensured a smooth and seamless experience for all participants.
Generous sponsors supporting the event included Shell USA, Inc., Arca Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages, Enterprise Mobility, ExxonMobil, H-E-B, and Motiva. The Walk also featured family-friendly activities in the Future Scholars Corner sponsored by ExxonMobil, including interactive STEM demonstrations, a robotic dog, hands-on science experiments, children’s games, and a free book giveaway from Harris County Public Library. In addition to exploring scholarship opportunities and creating their profiles, fifteen fortunate students received laptops generously donated by Arca Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages.
Most importantly, all sponsors helped to make this year a success: Arca Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages, Alexander TentRentals, Celebrate with Yard Art, City of Houston, DJ’s Screen Printing, Enterprise Mobility, ExxonMobil, Frenchy’s, Harris County Precinct 1, HarrisCounty Public Library, H-E-B, Houston Public Library and Houston Public LibraryFoundation, Houston Leadership Council Members, Houston Methodist Hospital, Lockton, LyondellBasell, Motiva, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Prejones Catering, Radio One – The Boxx 97.9, Praise 92.1, Majic 102.1, Rington Audio Visual, LLC, Right Time Solutions, Southwest Airlines, STEAMvention, Waste Management, Wellby Financial.
By event day, the campaign had raised $166,416.14, with donations and matching gifts continuing through Oct. 31, 2025.
News and Information
Did You Know?
UNCF Houston area office serves Southeast Texas (including Austin, Houston, San Antonio, and the Golden Triangle) and New Mexico. UNCF’s 4 Texas member institutions include Huston-Tillotson University, Jarvis Christian University, Texas College and Wiley University. However, UNCF supports students at the four-year accredited school of their choosing and its 37-member institutions to keep their academic programs strong and their tuitions/fees affordable.
UNCF HOUSTON 2026 LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
Join The Houston Inter-Alumni Council
Interested in joining our Houston Inter-Alumni Council? Join President Dr. Talia M. Pennington-Dorsey and the other HIAC members to support minority higher education and advocate for HBCUs and the students that UNCF serves. Sign up for more information here.
UNCF Houston Staff
