(Dallas, TX – April 4, 2006) Tom Joyner, the nationally syndicated radio personality and philanthropist, has launched a major initiative to challenge three historically black colleges and universities to raise more than $200,000 PER SCHOOL. The challenge is designed to broaden and strengthen their efforts to raise money for scholarships, retain students, attract top-notch students, increase their donor base and relocate lost alums.
Three historically black colleges and universities and are eligible to receive up to $200,000 from the six-year-old Tom Joyner Foundation. The challenged kicked on April FIRST and the schools will have until June 30th to raise their portion of the money which is $100,000. The Tom Joyner Foundation will match every dollar raised by the school for a total gift of more than $200,000. The Tom Joyner Foundation Matching Challenge 2006 is setting out to provide additional scholarship support to students at these black colleges. The Challenge also hopes help each HBCU to increase alumni fundraising and find new donors.
The participating schools are Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX; Jarvis Christian College, Hawkins, TX; and, Knoxville College, Knoxville, TN. Each school was chosen based on having a need for additional scholarship assistance for their students.
“This is all about putting kids through school,” said Thomas Joyner, who created the Foundation and whose four-hour drive-time show is heard in 115-plus markets and heard by more than eight million listeners. “This Challenge is another way for us to show our support for HBCUs and help make sure our black students complete their education.”
The Tom Joyner Foundation is responsible for raising more $30 million dollars and helping some 40 colleges and thousands of deserving students. Each month, Joyner raises money for a specific historically black college and helps students currently attending that school.
Funds for this Challenge have been generated from the Foundation’s largest fundraiser, which is the annual Fantastic Voyage that has raised nearly $1 million each year. The seven-day cruise will set sail May 27th – June 3th, 2006 and is has sold out for the sixth consecutive year. Throughout the year, the Foundation receives donations primarily from individuals, but also from several Fortune 1000 companies including Allstate, Budweiser, and Daimler-Chrysler. At 20 Southwest Airlines Sky Shows, the Foundation awards scholarships to students.
Joyner, a graduate of Tuskegee Institute NOW University, has been highly recognized by industry and community groups for the work he has done during the more than 25 years in radio. Last year, he not only was inducted into the prestigious Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame, but he also received the Marconi Award from the National Association of Broadcasters’ as the top nationally syndicated/network radio personality. Joyner’s sons are also graduates of black colleges: Thomas Jr., Howard University and Oscar, Florida A&M University.
FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE CHALLEGE VISIT US AT WWW.BLACKAMERICAWEB.COM.
For additional information, contact, Neil Foote, spokesperson, Tom Joyner Foundation, (972) 789-1058, neil.foote@reachmediainc.com.
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