CHICAGO, Sept. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Black MBA Association Inc.
announced today the formation of a student relief fund to provide emergency
grants to college students displaced by the Hurricane Katrina disaster.
Keeping in line with its vision to lead in the creation of intellectual
and economic wealth in the African American community, the country's largest
black professional organization pledged to raise $1 million from its corporate
partners, 39 chapters and individuals for the National Black MBA Student
Empowerment Relief Fund. The money will be used to provide emergency
assistance to students forced away from their colleges due to the hurricane
and flooding in the Gulf coast region, the group said.
"We are saddened by the tremendous devastation suffered by so many
communities, families and individuals," said NBMBAA Chairman Alvin Brown
Tuesday after meeting with other national black political and civic leaders
including Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and Dallas-based spiritual
leader Bishop T.D. Jakes.
"The NBMBAA Student Empowerment Relief Fund is one way that we can
directly impact students who were affected by the disaster and help them
continue their education," Brown said. The NBMBAA 39 chapters from across the
U.S. along with the National Headquarters office, located in Chicago, IL have
come together with an initial contribution of more than $50,000. Together we
will rally our corporate partners and others to join this cause. Distribution
of the funds will be coordinated through the schools that have accepted
displaced students.
Jakes' Potter House Ministries announced it would be making a $25,000
contribution to the fund. "We believe the NBMBAA's intention to help displaced
students is laudable and welcome other corporate and business support," said
Bishop Jakes.
The Chicago-based NBMBAA is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year.
The group had planned to hold its annual conference in New Orleans at the
Morial Convention Center next month. Its conference will now be relocated to
San Diego, California on Oct. 11th - 16th. A major fundraiser will be held at
the conference in support of the fund that week as well, said Barbara Thomas,
NBMBAA president and CEO.
"While we offer our deepest condolences to those who lost their family
members, friends and property," Thomas said, "We also pledge support as well
as Godspeed to our friend, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin."
Mayor Nagin, Xavier University President, Dr. Norman Francis and Dan
Packer, President & CEO of Entergy of New Orleans had been scheduled to be
this year's conference co-chairmen. Xavier, along with New Orleans-based
Dilliard University, Tulane University and Loyola University are all colleges
that were ravaged by the storm and whose students will be eligible for
assistance.
For more information about making contributions to the NBMBAA Student
Empowerment Relief Fund, please visit our website at http://www.nbmbaa.org.
SOURCE National Black MBA Association Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.nbmbaa.org
CONTACT:
Alonza Robertson, Senior Vice President of
Westin Rinehart, +1-202-466-1933, or fax: +1-202-466-0777, for
the National Black MBA Association Inc.
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