‘Education Will Eradicate Poverty in Your Life’

Tracy Moore, a UNCF Fidelity Scholar, will graduate from Morgan State University in May 2026. To say she has come a long way would be an understatement. Moore was born in Liberia, West Africa, and later relocated to the United States with her family as a child. While in the States, Moore experienced 10 years of housing insecurity. Education opened a pathway to stability for Moore, and UNCF’s support allowed her to stay on course even when faced with adversity.

Whilst experiencing housing insecurity, Moore was invited to join a church that happened to offer an IT class. After completing the class, Moore received a certification that gave her the credentials she needed to secure a job. That job put Moore in the position to finally obtain stable housing.

Moore continued her education, earning her associate degree in cybersecurity, and eventually enrolled in Morgan State University, where she majored in cybersecurity intelligence management.

Moore’s time at Morgan State University was almost cut short when she faced difficulty paying her tuition. But with UNCF’s support, she was able to continue her education. Moore was selected for the UNCF Fidelity Scholars Program, which provides not only financial support but also access to coaching, mentorship, career-readiness and financial education.“UNCF’s support has been life-changing; it eased my financial stress and helped me to dedicate more time to professional development, which I love doing,” Moore shared. The generosity of UNCF donors allowed Moore to experience firsthand the impact of support, which has fueled her passion for mentoring the next generation of scholars.

As a UNCF Fidelity Scholar, Moore has had several opportunities to share her story with fellow students and donors. Moore also serves as a UNCF Ambassador and is committed to helping students in the same position she was in. “We don’t have that background with parents who are financially stable and have a whole fund set aside for our college experience,” she explained. “I just want to be able to help others who are facing the same situation as me and pull them out too.”

Moore was also invited to attend the 2025 UNCF Baltimore Masked Ball, helping to bring to life the impact of UNCF donors.

After graduation, Moore plans to continue helping people. “I want to contribute to the government and protect the critical systems that impact people’s lives,” she said. “Later on, I aspire to give back when I’m financially stable.”

In the District of Columbia, Maryland and Northern Virginia, over 200 students during the 2023-2024 academic year benefited from access to education thanks to UNCF.

Donating to UNCF ensures that more young people will experience the transformational effects of education. Moore knows this experience all too well: “Education will eradicate poverty in your life.”