UNCF & Voorhees University Calls on Voters to Support HBCUs at the Ballot Box with Voter Mobilization Effort
Delivering Impact for Students Across South Carolina, Nonpartisan Campaign Highlights Opportunity for Voters to Secure the Future of America’s Historically Black Institutions
Denmark, SC (10.18.2024)—Today, UNCF (United Negro College Fund), the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization announced a nonpartisan campaign aimed at mobilizing students, alumni, local communities, and people who care deeply about historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU) to vote in this election cycle.
The campaign launches with commercial ads running on digital and radio platforms in key battleground states with strong HBCU communities, including Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. UNCF’s voter mobilization campaign has the potential to reach over a million potential voters in an election that is expected to be decided by razor-thin margins.
This nonpartisan get-out-the-vote campaign aims to inspire people to vote, especially young Black voters, by ensuring communities understand that the future of HBCUs hangs in the balance of this election.
Special Assistant to the President for Becoming Beloved Community and Governmental Relations, Mr. Dwayne Smiling, said, “Voorhees is working with the administration, faculty, staff, students, and the community to do our part through registration, education, and getting out to vote during this critical period.”
The nonpartisan campaign is launching on the heels of UNCF’s latest HBCU economic impact report, Transforming Futures: The Economic Engine of HBCUs. Commissioned by UNCF’s Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute (FDPRI), this report is a comprehensive, data-driven analysis highlighting the substantial contributions of HBCUs make to their students, local communities, and the nation at large.
Like Voorhees University, HBCUs have long been pillars of educational excellence and economic engines, driving prosperity in their communities and across the nation. Despite these contributions, chronic underfunding threatens their ability to sustain this impact.
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, supports and strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. While totaling only 3% of all colleges and universities, UNCF institutions and other historically Black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 13% of bachelor’s degrees, 5% of master’s degrees, 10% of doctoral degrees and 24% of all STEM degrees earned by Black students in higher education. UNCF 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 over 1,100 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized trademark, ‟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.
About Voorhees University
Founded in 1897 by Elizabeth Evelyn Wright, Voorhees University is a private, coeducational institution affiliated with the Episcopal Church and the United Negro College Fund. Driven by a mission to cultivate well-rounded graduates who integrate intellect and faith, the university emphasizes lifelong learning, healthy living, societal betterment, and a strong belief in God. Voorhees University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees. More details are available at the Voorhees website (www.voorhees.edu). Questions about the accreditation of Voorhees University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org)
