Here is this week’s news of grants or gifts to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.
Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina, was awarded $120,000 by the Office of Substance Use Services at the South Carolina Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities to support the HBCU’s Resist Overcome Achieve Rise (R.O.A.R) program. The initiative hosts monthly activities to empower students to resist harmful behaviors and overcome personal challenges to achieve academic and life success.
At a recent graduation ceremony, Florida A&M University received a $100,000 gift from commencement speaker Omar Goff, an alumnus and former president of the hair care product company Mielle. In his speech, Goff, now a corporate executive with Procter & Gamble, announced that Mielle’s founders, Melvin and Monique Rodriguez, and Thasunda Brown Duckett, president and CEO of TIAA and a speaker at another FAMU commencement ceremony, had matched his donation. The combined $300,000 in funding will establish endowments to support business students and aspiring entrepreneurs at the HBCU.
During its commencement ceremony, Tougaloo College in Mississippi received a $100,000 commitment from WellWithAll, a health and wellness company offering supplements, targeted support, and natural energy products. The gift will be used to develop mental health services, expand counseling access, and identify strategic well-being partnerships at the HBCU beginning with the 2026–2027 academic year. Additionally, the company introduced a limited-edition Tougaloo College Energy Drink, which was provided to each graduating student, along with a mental health wellness guide. Proceeds from the commemorative product will help fund future institutional investments.
Clark Atlanta University received a $250,000 federal investment to enhance the HBCU’s campus safety. The new funding will allow the Clark Atlanta University Police Department to upgrade its technology, strengthen communication systems, and expand initiatives focused on creating a safe campus environment.