Charlotte’s lone HBCU receives $1.8M, helping propel city’s racial-equity pledge
Johnson C. Smith University has received a $1.8 million boost from The Gambrell Foundation, propelling the city’s racial-equity fundraising pledge for the historically Black university, officials announced Tuesday.
The Mayor’s Racial Equity Initiative, has raised more than $226 million of its overall $250 million goal since launching in November 2021. The latest donation helps to surpass the original fundraising goal of $80 million for the university.
Funds raised will help transform the city’s lone historically Black university into a top-tier, career-focused HBCU.
“We need strong institutions like JCSU to make their dreams a reality,” Sally Gambrell Bridgford, president of The Gambrell Foundation, said in the news release. “That’s why we’re proud to partner with the university to ensure it has the resources to transform lives.”
Mayor Vi Lyles set the $250 million goal as a part of the largest investment in Charlotte history to address racial disparities.
Charlotte expects to invest the money in four areas: to enhance the city’s lone historically Black college; in six neighborhoods identified through the Corridors of Opportunity program; increasing internet and technology access for all; and boosting recruiting and retention of diverse candidates for the city’s biggest employers.
“As Charlotte’s only historically Black university, so many of our students are the very first in their families to attend college,” Clay Armbrister, president of JCSU, said. “JCSU will now be equipped with the resources to transform lives for generations to come.”
Earlier this month, JCSU also announced the opening of a new student health center through a partnership with Atrium Health. The partnership comes as a part of Atrium Health’s commitment to the mayor’s pledge, according to the school.
“The goal of this initiative is to establish public-private partnership for achieving racial equity, social justice, economic opportunity and upward mobility,” Lyles said. “The response from our philanthropic and corporate community is unprecedented, and I am proud that this initiative is setting a new standard for American cities.”
This story was originally published September 1, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
