HCF raises funds for scholarships, initiative programming, and for private and public HBCUs and MSis. HCF is a strong advocate for students and higher education.
CHICAGO, IL – In January, several HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) have had to lock down or postpone classes due to bomb threats. Now, on the first day of Black History Month, more than a dozen HBCUs reported bomb threats for the third time. Howard University has received a bomb threat for the third time.
“Several HBCUs have received bomb threats that have put those campuses in harm, and a horrifying situation to react accordingly. As an advocacy organization for HBCUs, we are disheartened and disturbed by the continuous notice of bomb threats at HBCU campuses. The strength of our HBCU institutions truly matter; they are sacred places to our nation that we must preserve. We hope that these crimes will bring justice to those responsible and that this is a top priority for federal law enforcement. Please don’t be silent about this. If you have any information that could assist federal law enforcement in solving this, please call ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives) at (888) 283-8477 or the FBI at (800) 225-5324.HBCU Nation, please continue remain strong, safe, and aware of all of your surroundings during this unforeseen times.”
“I am calling for all HBCU advocates of NAACP, UNCF, TMCF, HBCU Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus to come together in urging an end to such crime and challenge the FBI for further investigation.”
We are needing your help. Our charge at HBCU Campaign Fund (HCF) is to work tirelessly to assist students and higher education. Thank you for your unwavering support throughout the years of our organization’s existence; we were able to make dreams come true. Furthermore, as we continue our mission to remain strong advocates for students and HBCUs, we would like your continued support to become an HBCU Campaign Fund donor in helping us in the longevity fight in strengthening the HBCU space.
Our mission is to fundraise a goal of $50,000 while instituting initiative programming and partnerships in support of HBCUs and their communities. We’ll accomplish those goals by providing scholarships, endowments and enhancing the significance of those who our organization supports.
Our fundraising campaigns focus on raising funding for students who have financial needs to continue their college education or assist the organization with the necessary financing for providing initiative programming to students and HBCUs. Your contribution is critical and beneficial to many individuals supported through HCF who fall short financially. Our goal is to assist as many individuals in need and ensure that they accomplish their dreams.
We are calling on all HBCU alumni, friends, affinity groups, and education supporters to help us support students going to college and keep them in college by supporting the HBCU Campaign Fund with a generous gift to continue the proposed dreamed mission.
If you would like to become a donor, you can make an online donation at www.hbcucampaignfund.org/donate. You may donate directly below or mail to HBCU Campaign Fund, 12558 S. Princeton Ave, Chicago, IL 60628-7225. Your donation will provide access to the key of education for many students who are achieving their goals to success. We Are HBCUs.
Yours Sincerely,
Demetrius Johnson, Jr. Founder, President and CEO HBCU Campaign Fund
It’s with heavy heart to learn of the passing of former Zoo Director Dr. Lester E. Fisher, who passed away at the age of 100 on December 22. He remarkably transformed the notion of what a zoo is during his 30-year tenure as zoo director of Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, emphasizing the importance of education and conservation while furthering animal welfare and care.
Under his 30-year tenure, Fisher emphasized the importance of educating the public about the role zoos serve in society as conservation powerhouses. Visiting the zoo became an educational journey. He also encouraged animal care staff to further their education and hired experts who had the proper knowledge to provide world-class care.
Chicago has lost one of its greatest giants of humanity, Dr. Lester Fisher. His magnificent life and treasures mean everything to the world and the space of zoology. He was the man with the plan, and he laid the foundation for what Lincoln Park Zoo is today, building the first Great Ape House. It graces his name Dr. Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes, known as one of the world’s leading ape behavior and science centers.
Dr. Fisher, who had a affinity for gorillas, spent time studying in Africa. In 1976, the zoo opened the Lester E. Fisher Great Ape House, where it continues to work with lowland gorillas. Under Fisher’s leadership, Lincoln Park Zoo “was home to the largest gorilla population in North America.”
Dr. Lester Fisher, with two baby gorillas, in 1974. Photo credit: Chicago Sun-Times
Dr. Lester Fisher at Lincoln Park Zoo in 1998. Photo credit: Chicago Sun-Times
As Zoo Director, Dr. Fisher is also credited with transforming the zoo into a state-of-the-art institution by renovating animal buildings and habitats, improving education around the animals and increasing conservation efforts.
Dr. Fisher worked at Lincoln Park Zoo nearly 45 years, starting in 1947 and later serving as the zoo’s director from 1962 until he retired in 1992. He is noted as the zoo’s first veterinarian.
The HBCU Campaign Fund organization joins the Lincoln Park Zoo family in extending our sincere condolences and thoughts to the Fisher family and friends during this time. We are more than grateful for his remarkable life and the many he has influenced. May Dr. Fisher’s legacy continue to be honored in our hearts going into the New Year, and for Lincoln Park Zoo to continue to carry on with his cherishable contributions forevermore.
Wishing you a joyous holiday season! Because of your continuous generous support of the HBCU Campaign Fund (HCF), you have given us so many reasons to say “Thank You” this holiday season.
On the behalf of everyone at the HCF, we hope you have a safe and very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We thank you for all you do to help us support students and higher education, especially on the fight to Campaign For HBCUs. YOU are the reason that the fight continues and that successes happens at our nation HBCU institutions, and we can’t think of a better gift than that.
Always remember that our supporters is indeed very special to us, and we are forever grateful that we can always count on your support. So again, from all of us at HCF, the students, HBCUs, and MSIs who benefit from your support and advocacy in the fight, happy holidays!
There’s still time for you to contribute to our Campaign For HBCUs Challenge and help us in reaching our fund goal of $50,000!
Your gift today will help ensure HCF can continue hitting the ground running in the New Year. We still have so much urgent advocacy and programming work to do if we going to help keep higher education evolving.
#GivingTuesday is a global day that allows individuals to support causes and organizations that make a difference in their communities and around the world. Every year, on the Tuesday after Cyber Monday, the HBCU Campaign Fund (HCF) is pleased to join in Giving Tuesday and with the help of our support, the fight to Campaign for HBCUs will continue to assure that HCF can support the important assignment that HBCUs and MSIs do in providing quality education to a diverse population of students.
This year, our goal is to reach $50,000 in necessary funding to continue our mission to provide scholarships and support higher education. Gifts donated during HCF’s #GivingTuesday campaign will be used where needed most in support of students attending HBCUs and higher education, specifically Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Predominately Black Institutions (PBIs).
Higher education can be the debt of a student during their matriculating, and with your support of HCF, we can assist with helping those students with their educational endeavors. On Tuesday, November 30, 2021, we encourage you to consider HCF in reaching its goals to advocate for higher education, making a recurring or one-time gift below.
About the HBCU Campaign Fund Founded in 2012, HCF was the vision and brainchild of founder Demetrius Johnson, Jr. In 2015, HCF incorporated its mission to supporting the significance and raising funds for student scholarships and services at HBCUs and MSIs. HCF remains today as a strong advocate for students and higher education. Visit www.hbcucampaignfund.org.
How can I join the cause? You can support HCF through its #GivingTuesday campaign in the following ways:
Joining the #Unselfie movement by taking a selfie with reasons why you support HCF and tagging HCF on social media using #HCFGivingTuesday
Use the hashtag #GivingTuesday to talk about HCF, what does the organization mean to you and why do you support the organization
Make a gift by using Cash App: $CampaignForHBCUs
Or online at www.hbcucampaignfund.org/donateand contributing to one of the following: HCF HBCU General Scholarship, Annual HBCU Football and Recruitment Tour, The Brenda G. Johnson Memorial Scholarship Fund, and Campus Student Ambassador Program. You may designate where your donation goes, and 100% of it goes to the selected cause.
To get involved in supporting HCF before, on GivingTuesday, and after, you are encouraged to visit the HCF Giving Tuesday official page at www.hbcucampaignfund.org/donate/givingtuesday to learn more about how you can make a difference!
CHICAGO, IL – HBCU Campaign Fund’s (HCF) Founder, President & CEO, Demetrius Johnson Jr., will return to his alma mater to serve as a Student Recruitment Specialist in the good faith of assisting the team in increasing enrollment at the institution. His tenure began on April 16th. He is excited to provide his passionate and student-centered enthusiasm to the team. This will be in addition to Johnson continuing his duties as the Founder, President & CEO at the HBCU Campaign Fund where he has served for eight years. He does not accept a current salary for his position at HCF.
Demetrius Johnson Jr., Founder, President & CEO at HBCU Campaign Fund.
Johnson has a total of three years of higher education experience, most recently serving as a Financial Aid Counselor at Mississippi Valley State University. Prior to that, he served as Admissions Communications Specialist at Lincoln University of Missouri from 2017 until 2019. Since 2015, he has served as the Founder, President & CEO of the HBCU Campaign Fund, an advocacy non-profit educational organization that supports the significance and raises funds for scholarships and services at HBCUs and MSIs.
“It is such an honor to return back home to my alma mater to continue my service from once that I had provided as a student with this amazing opportunity. I look forward to working alongside those who align with the same vision in reaching the ultimate goal in making a better future for our Dear Mother as an HBCU,” said Johnson. “I care deeply about my alma mater, I BLEED black and gold, and those who know me personally know that I truly do. I am eager to accept this task and ambitiously willing to prepare students for success. Vice Chancellor Dr. Braque Talley has a vision and It’s UAPB to the TOP!”
Described as a highly visionary and passionate leader at heart, Johnson is a strong advocate for HBCUs. His vision for HCF is to lead the organization forward as an essential tool for supporting students and higher education. His ultimate goal is to ensure that HBCUs remain the relevant institutions that they were created to be, by us.
“I really enjoy working and servicing the students with the neccessary essentials that they’re needing to be successful in their collegiate studies. I am a strong believer of customer service and being user friendly, which is the key to a successful staff to student relationship. Also, it plays a huge part in retention,” Johnson added.
Johnson has received numerous awards and recognitions since his presidency at HCF. He was named among the 2016 HBCU Top 30, Under 30 by HBCU Buzz. Also, he served on a number of committees and groups.
Johnson earned his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (2016). In 2016, he was selected to attend a four-week study abroad program at the University of Toulouse-Jean Jaures in Toulouse, France. He is currently working on his Master’s degree.
###
About the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is a public comprehensive HBCU 1890 Land-Grant Institution. The University embraces its land-grant mission of providing cutting edge research, teaching, outreach, and service programs that respond to the social and economic needs of the state and region. Its mission is to promote and sustain excellent academic programs that integrate quality instruction, research, and student learning experiences responsive to the needs of a racially, culturally, and economically diverse student population. Ultimately, the University is dedicated to providing access and opportunity to academically deserving students and producing graduates who are equipped to excel through their contributions and leadership in a 21st century national and global community. For more information, visit www.uapb.edu.
About the HBCU Campaign Fund (HCF) The HBCU Campaign Fund (HCF) is a nonprofit advocacy educational organization that is mission to support the significance and raises funds for scholarships, initiative programming, and for private and public HBCUs and MSIs. HCF remains today as a strong advocate for students and higher education. For more information, visit www.hbcucampaignfund.org.
The day of March 24th was an historic moment in higher education, specifically for our historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). I am very thankful for those who serve as dominant advocates for our HBCUs and of our government officials – federal, state, and local who continuously fight for equity funding and resources for HBCUs. Additionally, I am overly grateful for those who proudly stand on the impact of our HBCUs in the state of Maryland. Maryland is home to four HBCUs that include: Bowie State University, Coppin State University, Morgan State University, and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
After fifteen years of battling for equal rights of better state funding that will bring much-needed support to carry on with a high-quality education at the Maryland’s four HBCUs. The battle is only one step further with $577 million over a decade we will accept; however, it is still not equitably enough. Let’s continue the fight for MORE. We applaud House Speaker Adrienne Jones and Senator Charles Sydnor for their willingness in leading this effort to the resolution of this long-standing lawsuit of what defines brighter days for our institutions. Also, I applaud the Legislative Black Caucus for their efforts in this resolution as well.
On March 24th, Bowie State University welcomed Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, along with Senate President Bill Ferguson and House Speaker Adrienne Jones, for the official signing of the legislation lawsuit. As a result of the $577 HBCU Settlement Bill, Morgan State University will receive $24 million, Bowie State $16.7 million, Coppin State University $9 million, and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore $9.7 million in state funds in the fiscal year 2023, and at least $9 million annually thereafter, through the fiscal year 2032. The funds in the settlement are expected to be used for scholarships and financial aid support services, as well as faculty recruitment and development. Also, the funds could be used to expand and improve existing academic programs, including online programs, and the development and implementation of new academic programs.
The ongoing efforts to ‘Campaign For HBCUs’ will carry on to evolve around the educational landscape of our HBCUs. And the fight for equity funding doesn’t just stop here; however, it will keep going for Maryland HBCUs and all other HBCUs that rely on state funding. In the words of President Breaux, HBCUs will continue to be a beacon of hope and promise for those seeking to improve their families and communities through public higher education. And the HBCU Campaign Fund will always advocacy, support and commend the roles of our HBCUs and their vigorous leaders, faculty, and staff.
The HBCU Campaign Fund (HCF) tirelessly advocates for the future of students, HBCUs, and MSIs as we continue to strengthen our role as leading advocates in the space of higher education. However, to continue the necessary work, we urge for your continued support and generosity to reach our demanding goals.
Your donation will work twice as hard to help continue the work that we do at HCF with your help. Consider supporting our mission and cause; thank you for your generosity!
With a heavy heart, I am saddened to share the news of the passing of Mississippi Civil Rights icon Meredith C. Anding, Jr., who died Friday at the age of 79. He was an active member of the NAACP, where he worked closely with Medgar Evers.
In 1961, Anding was one of the nine students, who were undergraduates at Tougaloo College, and staged sit-ins at the all-white Jackson Main Library in Jackson, Mississippi. Prior to the sit-ins, African Americans were prohibited from using the city’s main library. The nine students were members of the Jackson Youth Council of the NAACP. Medgar Evers, who was then president of the Jackson branch of the NAACP, trained them for the sit-in protest.
The group was later known as the Tougaloo Nine. We indeed are indebted to Mr. Meredith Anding Jr., James S. Bradford, Alfred L. Cook, Geraldine Edwards, Janice Jackson, Joseph Jackson Jr., Albert E. Lassiter, Evelyn Pierce, and Ethel Sawyer for the bravery sacrifices that they have made towards injustice in this country, and the continued equality for African Americans today.
Please join me in offering sincere condolences to his family and the Touglooo College community during this sorrowful time.
