UNCF Celebrates 75 Years of Investing in Better Futures at Milwaukee Mayor’s Masked Ball
Raising $300,000 for historically black colleges and universities and deserving students
During an extraordinary night, UNCF Chicago locally celebrated its 75th anniversary March 16 at its Milwaukee UNCF Mayor’s Masked Ball. Raising $300,000 for deserving students and historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), the event commemorated the founding of the organization by Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) president Dr. Frederick Douglass Patterson with backing from corporate leaders led by John D. Rockefeller, Jr., and Coca Cola President Robert W. Woodruff.
Nearly 300 civic, business and community leaders attended the signature fundraiser, including the honorable Mayor Tom Barrett, city of Milwaukee; mistress of ceremonies and anchorwoman Amanda Porterfield; and the evening’s entertainment vocalist Sandy Redd.
Chaired by Dr. Joan Prince, U.S. Ambassador Emeritus, United Nations, and Celia J. Shaugnessy, chief human resources officer, Ascension Wisconsin, the event also featured a live auction. Benefitting HBCUs and students alike, events like the Milwaukee Mayor’s Masked Ball helped UNCF provide nearly than $470,000 in scholarships to students from Wisconsin last year.
UNCF presented Grady Crosby, vice president, public affairs and chief diversity officer, Johnson Controls, with the UNCF Masked Award for being a beacon of hope and supporter of UNCF’s mission. Event sponsors included presenting sponsor Ascension Health and Johnson Controls; president-level sponsor, Rockwell Automation; chancellor-level sponsors, Potawatomi Hotel & Casino and Wisconsin Electric; and professor-level sponsors, BMO Harris Bank, Brewers Community Foundation, Inc., S.C. Johnson, UW-Milwaukee, Manpower, Associated Bank, Town Bank, American Airlines and Direct Supply.
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About UNCF
UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students’ education and development through scholarships and other programs, strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding nearly 20 percent of African American baccalaureate degrees. UNCF awards more than $100 million in scholarships annually and administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at more than 1,100 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized motto, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”® Learn more at UNCF.org, or for continuous updates and news, follow UNCF on Twitter at @UNCF