HBCUs Gear Up For $35 Million Dollar "HBCU Promise" Donation from Dominion Energy
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Posted By: Roger Gates on July 24, 2020 Dominion Energy, a power and energy company based in Virginia, is starting a $35 million initiative to support 11 historically black colleges and universities in Virginia, Ohio, South Carolina and North Carolina, including North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro. The six-year initiative, entitled the “HBCU Promise,” will provide $25 million in funding to the selected institutions. The additional $10 million will act as a scholarship fund to support “African American and underrepresented minority students across the company’s service territory.” Persida Montanez of Dominion Energy North Carolina Gas told TBJ that each selected school will receive between $500,000 to $6 million over the six-year initiative. Todd Simmons, associate vice chancellor for university relations at N.C. A&T, said details of the exact amount NC A&T will receive have not been figured out yet. However, the university has been in dialogue with Dominion Energy on how much will be dispersed to each institution. Simmons expects A&T's share of the funding to go towards its emphasis on engineering and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) disciplines. “We’re not only the top producer of African American engineers at the undergraduate, master's and doctoral level of any university in the country, but among HBCUs, we’re also considered to be the leading STEM institution,” Simmons said. “So, if you want to have an impact with a gift like this, then it makes great sense to partner with A&T.” Thomas F. Farrell, II, chairman, president and CEO of Dominion Energy, said the company has partnered with HBCUs for nearly 40 years. With the current discussion of race relations in America, this investment is one of the ways the organization could help. "We have all been witness to our country's evolving conversation on race and social justice. The country is changing, and we have been looking for ways that we can make a difference. Investing in these important institutions – which serve as a springboard for social and economic mobility for so many – is one way we can help,” Farrell said. “As I have said before, we are humbled and honored to continue supporting them with this current initiative." If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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Roger Gates
Founder & CEO, Motivo Spec Hampton University class of 1995 Member Since June 1999 |
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