UNCF Kicks Off Annual Effort To Send Kids To College
DETROIT (WWJ) - The United Negro College Fund is urging Michiganders to take steps to help put more kids in college.
The UNCF held a kickoff event in downtown Detroit on Wednesday to announce the fundraising goal for its 24th annual walk for education.
Chris Johnson, chairman of the UNCF Leadership Council, spoke about the importance of a college education.
"It's certainly the key to economic empowerment, but it's also the key to put young people on the right track and out of the wrong track, which so often they come into contact with," Johnson said.
WWJ Newsradio 950's Vickie Thomas spoke with Leslie Andrews, UNCF's development director for Michigan who said they grossed $383,000 last year. This year's goal is $450,000.
"We're working towards our 25th anniversary which will have a half-a-million-dollar goal and we will have the walk in secondary markets like Grand Rapids and Saginaw," said Andrews. "So, we're very, very excited. We have great momentum this year."
This year's 5-K walk will be held in August on Belle Isle. They're hoping to recruit 1,500 walkers.
