Thurgood Marshall College Fund member schools recipients of historic gift from the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Greenwood Initiative
2024年8月7日 - 4:00AM
Two Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) member schools are the
recipients of a historic $600 million gift from the Bloomberg
Philanthropies’ Greenwood Initiative to bolster the endowments of
the nation’s four historically Black medical schools. The gift is
the largest ever to historically Black colleges and universities
(HBCUs).
Howard University College of Medicine received a $175 million
commitment while Charles R. Drew University of Medicine &
Science received $75 million. Funding levels were determined by
current class size and anticipated growth.
“It was an honor to be in attendance for this historic
announcement from Bloomberg Philanthropies,” Dr. Harry L. Williams,
president & CEO of TMCF, said. “This commitment is an important
investment in addressing health disparities, underrepresentation in
medical fields and providing equal access to quality health
care.”
HBCUs play a pivotal role in educating Black medical
professionals, producing 70 percent of all Black doctors and
dentists despite representing only 3 percent of college and
universities. The four Black medical schools graduate around half
of all Black doctors in the U.S.
Representation in the field is critical, as research shows Black
people have better health outcomes and are more likely to receive
preventative care when treated by Black physicians.
“Much like HBCUs across the country, the four Black medical
schools’ endowments are significantly underfunded due to systemic
inequities. This gift will enhance the ability of these
institutions to provide access to medical school and continue
producing exceptional professionals,” Dr. Williams said.
Bloomberg Philanthropies gave $100 million in 2020 to the four
Black medical schools, which at the time was the largest gift from
a single donor to the institutions. The gift helped reduce student
debt of nearly 1,000 future Black doctors. The organization
provided an additional $6 million to the institutions in 2021 to
help provide access to COVID-19 vaccines to underserved
populations.
About the Thurgood Marshall College
FundEstablished in 1987, the Thurgood Marshall College
Fund (TMCF) is the nation’s largest organization exclusively
representing the Black College Community. TMCF member schools
include the publicly supported Historically Black Colleges and
Universities, Historically Black Community Colleges and
Predominantly Black Institutions, enrolling nearly 80% of all
students attending Black colleges and universities. Through
scholarships, capacity building and research initiatives,
innovative programs, and strategic partnerships, TMCF is a vital
resource in the K-12 and higher education space. The organization
is also the source of top employers seeking top talent for
competitive internships and good jobs. TMCF is a 501(c)(3)
tax-exempt, charitable organization. For more information about
TMCF, visit www.tmcf.org.
Clara Ross Stamps
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund
240-931-0696
clara.stamps@tmcf.org