UNCF SF Bay Area to Host its 2026 “A Mind Is…”® Bay Area Gala

UNCF is changing the HBCU narrative across the nation by helping underrepresented students to get to and through college

UNCF will host its annual “A Mind Is…”^® Bay Area Gala, commencing at 5:00 p.m., on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at The Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center for the Arts in Oakland. Nearly 400 corporate partners, educators, religious leaders, entertainers and community influencers are expected to attend including Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee. Mayor Lee is also among the class of UNCF’s 2026 honorees.

For 81 years, UNCF has strived to change the HBCU narrative across the nation by equipping more historically Black college and university (HBCU) students with the resources necessary to transition into college, graduate and ultimately establish careers that will build better futures for our society.

“I believe 2026 is a year ripe with potential for growth, innovation and the opportunity to contribute positively to the mission of UNCF and the value of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs),” said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO, UNCF.

“I am particularly excited about events like this one and other initiatives we have lined up for this year. Together, we have the opportunity to nurture collaboration, spark creativity and strengthen our collective resilience to provide the essential financial resources necessary to ensure the continued success of HBCUs and their students,” Dr. Lomax said.

“As we approach our ninth decade of existence, UNCF remains vigilant and more committed than ever to achieving our mission of helping underrepresented students to fulfill their college dreams and attain career success. No obstacles that might come our way will impede our progress. We stand ready to fight for the critical financial resources HBCUs will need to tackle the challenges and opportunities that await them. Events like the 2026 “A Mind Is…”^® Gala in Oakland help us do just that.”

Sponsors include Blue Shield of California, Blue World Travel, Towne Ford, Blaylock Van LLC, CA Superintendents, Cisco Systems, Kaiser Permanente, Lam Research, US Bank, Golden State Warriors and many others.

Honorees include former NASA rocket scientist, 2X Founder, and citizen astronaut, Aisha Bowe, the Honorable Oakland Mayor, Mayor Barbara Lee, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and NAACP. A special posthumous honoree award will also be given to the children of the late and great R&B artist of group Tony! Toni! Tone! and philanthropist, Dwayne Wiggins. Each honoree is recognized for their steadfast commitment to education and unwavering support of UNCF.

“We are proud of the legacy of our honorees who have championed higher education access and the quality of education uniquely afforded to thousands of deserving students at our nation’s historically black colleges, and regional programs that are providing career pathways for students here in the Bay Area and nationwide,” said Monica Sudduth, vice president, UNCF Western Region.

The event will also feature pre-function activities that include a VIP red carpet experience, a featured gallery of student scholarship recipients and reception for Bay Area HBCU alumni. Formal dining, live auction, awards presentation and entertainment from popular recording artists will conclude the evening.

For more information and sponsorship opportunities, contact Monica Sudduth at 415-956-1018 or by email at Monica.Sudduth@uncf.org.  Unable to attend, but want to make a difference in a student’s life? Text UNCFSFGALA to 44834. To stay connected to UNCF throughout the year, please visit https://uncf.org/local-offices/sanfrancisco. You can also follow this event @UNCF #UNCF #UNCFBayArea on social media.

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About UNCF

UNCF is one of the nation’s largest and most effective supporters of higher education and serves as a leading advocate for college-bound students. 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 awards more than 11,000 scholarships totaling more than $62 million. The scholarships support students attending more than 600 US-based colleges and universities including 37 UNCF-member HBCUs. Through its efforts, UNCF has helped generations of students to get to and through college. We believe a college education plays a vital role in fortifying the pipeline of leaders and professionals who contribute to the advancement of our society. Our logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and our 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.