College Fund

The nation's historically black colleges will gain significant visibility and clout when U.S. Rep. William H. Gray 3d takes the helm of the United Negro College Fund in September. Black educators from around the country hailed Gray's move to become president of the 47-year-old charitable fund, saying he would boost private giving to black colleges and be an effective lobbyist for their interests in Congress. Johnetta Cole, president of Spelman College, a historically black women's school in Atlanta, said Gray's appointment underscores the important role black colleges play in turning out future leaders.

For years, Annie D. Hyman, a parent with a large appetite for education, labored quietly as a community worker in Northwest Philadelphia. Then in 1975, she got an idea: Why not start a community-sponsored college-scholarship fund? It would not only raise money, but it also might get kids in District Four, one of the city's poorest and most densely populated school districts, interested in going to college. Yesterday, more than 1,000 people gathered at the Dunfey City Line Hotel to celebrate the 10th anniversary of that idea.

Yvonne Roberts, coordinator for a local golf tournament that benefits the United Negro College Fund, has a problem that makes her the envy of other minority charity fund-raisers - too many donors. While other charitable organizations scramble for funds, Roberts said her third annual United Negro College Fund Celebrity Golf Tournament had to turn away people who wanted to donate money while playing a round. Each hole at the 18-hole Bala Golf and Country Club was sponsored by a different contributor.

A long-planned endowment program for Philadelphia students to attend college has gotten off the ground with a $300,000 gift from pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline P.L.C. Announced at a City Hall news conference yesterday, the money represents the first major corporate support of the CORE (College Opportunity Resources for Education) program started in 2004 through the leadership of Mayor Street and U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah (D., Phila.). Fattah said yesterday he hoped to help raise $200 million for the fund, which will be managed by Philadelphia-based Glenmede Trust Co. Until now, the scholarship program has been funded almost evenly by the city and the Philadelphia School District, which together have provided more than $15 million.

The United Negro College Fund presents its annual fund-raiser/entertainment spectacular Sunday; "An Evening of Stars: A Celebration of Educational Excellence" airs 1-5 p.m. on WCAU (Channel 10). Designed to highlight 39 private, historically black member colleges and universities - as well as the achievements of the schools' students and graduates - this star-studded, four-hour affair will be hosted by singer Lou Rawls, producer/director Debbie Allen, radio commentator Tom Joyner and actress Jasmine Guy. Last year, a record $13.1 million in cash and pledges was raised as a result of the broadcast, which enabled the organization to administer the more than 400 educational programs that provide students access to higher education through scholarships and career opportunities.

William Gray III, president of the United Negro College Fund, continues to demonstrate his Midas touch on behalf of higher education for minorities. The former Philadelphia congressman yesterday announced that Microsoft Corp. and IBM have pledged $100 million in cash and equipment for students and faculty members at 39 black schools. AT&T is contributing $1 million, and the UNCF hopes to raise $29 million. "It is critically important that those who are coming out of these institutions have the technological skills that the society is going to demand in the 21st century," said Gray.

So you think of Mayor Goode as stiff, straight and suited. If so, you wouldn't have recognized him last night jogging around in a pair of black-and-white satin shorts, frowning and strutting and waving a pair of boxing gloves with which, in three rounds, he "knocked out" Canadian heavyweight Donovan "Razor" Ruddock. The fake fight, which left Ruddock theatrically sprawled on the canvas in the AME Plaza in West Philadelphia, was a fund-raiser for the United Negro College Fund and the private Clara Muhammad Elementary and Secondary School at 48th Street and Wyalusing Avenue in West Philadelphia.

The United Negro College Fund has entered into a partnership agreement with the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania to run joint fund-raising campaigns beginning this fall. The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) raises funds to support 41 private, historically black colleges and universities. The organization's alliance with United Way marks the first time the United Way has gotten involved in fund- raising for educational purposes. In the past, the fund-raising federation has focused exclusively on health and welfare agencies.

On a bright April afternoon, less than a month before he would graduate from the University of Pennsylvania, Class of 1998, Harold Shields rode his bike from campus to his old elementary school in the woebegone neighborhood of Mantua, a mile and a world away. He found a bench on what passes for the playground - broken glass glinting on macadam, netless basketball hoops. There he sat, watching the children, writing poetry, and mulling the miracle that had happened at Belmont Elementary 11 years before.

The good news for historically black colleges these days is that enrollment continues to rise. The bad news is that such growth imposes pressure to invest in new dormitories and other campus facilities. Now, some financial help is on the way. The Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment this week awarded a $42 million grant to the United Negro College Fund to help its 39 member colleges with capital needs, student scholarship money, and opportunities for faculty training and curriculum development.

What a difference a trip across the Delaware River could make for college students and their tuition-paying parents. Gov. Christie this week proposed a 5.5 percent increase in New Jersey's funding for state colleges and universities, plus a $28 million ramp-up in financial aid for students and a $1 million aid program to help inner-city students get to college. "In our society, education is the key to advancement," Christie said during his budget address Tuesday. "More attainment in education is the path to more earnings and success in life.

HARRISBURG - With Gov. Corbett set to announce his budget proposal next week, a key state Senate committee chairman has raised eyebrows by taking the unusual step of canceling hearings on state funding for courts and colleges, including Pennsylvania State University. Appropriations Chairman Jake Corman (R., Centre) said he opted not to hold the traditional February budget hearings for the state college system and so-called state-related schools such as Penn State because hearings were held last fall at locations across the state.

When Jaime Garofalo, a former certified nursing assistant, reported to her work-study post at Camden County College's financial aid office last week, she didn't know she was walking into bad news. Gov. Christie had eliminated additional funding for the aid program that has made it possible for the single mother, who was hurt on the job, to return to school in the hope of providing a better life for her son and three of her sister's children, who live with her. "My heart dropped," said Garofalo, 33, of Turnersville.

By Timothy R. Lannon Gov. Corbett's controversial cuts in assistance to colleges and universities point to a new model for funding higher education in Pennsylvania. As the governor has suggested, the commonwealth must attach more of its dollars to students and families, not individual institutions. Without such a shift, the proposed cuts to Pennsylvania's colleges and universities - especially public institutions - would be burdensome indeed. Higher tuition costs would limit access to a college education among low- and middle-income students at a time when the opposite has to occur.

Jane Berryman looked at the 20 women gathered in a Bryn Mawr living room and asked, "How many of you know the ballpark sum you'll need for your children's education?" About half raised their hands. "That's Problem Number One," said Berryman, a financial adviser from Raymond James Financial Inc. On an evening last month, Berryman was conducting a planning seminar at the home of a friend, interior designer Naheed Flake. Lacking goals for saving and investing - whether for retirement or a college fund - "is like heading out on a cross-country trip without a map," Berryman said.

House Democrats yesterday pulled the plug on the day's planned debate over long-awaited legislation to authorize table games, ending a fractious week of backdoor wrangling and leaving empty-handed several universities still awaiting their annual state funding. Democratic leaders said they were unable to round up the 102 votes needed to pass the bill. Several Democratic members were absent yesterday "for personal, medical or family matters" when the House convened, said Brett Marcy, a spokesman for Majority Leader Todd Eachus (D., Luzerne)

Tens of thousands of veterans who headed to college this fall under a new GI Bill that promises to cover most, if not all, of their expenses are scrambling to pay bills because of delays in benefit checks, say students, colleges, and veterans groups. "The GI Bill is a mess," said Rutgers University-Camden freshman Robeen Billings, 24, a former naval electronics technician. "I'm struggling because my first semester is not paid. I'm commuting from Newark to Camden, living off my credit card.

Gov. Rendell cannot cut Pennsylvania's four state-related universities out of an application for $42 million in federal stimulus funds, the Department of Education said yesterday. It's not clear whether that will translate into more money for Temple University, Pennsylvania State University, Lincoln University in Chester County, and the University of Pittsburgh, though; the state still has the power to award or withhold the money as it sees fit. In applying for Pennsylvania public colleges' share of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Rendell listed the 14 state schools as beneficiaries of federal dollars but excluded the four state-related universities.

After testimony from parents who had depleted their savings to provide treatment for their autistic children, New Jersey Senate and Assembly committees yesterday advanced a bill that would require insurers to cover screening and therapies related to the disorder. "If my child had cancer, diabetes or fetal alcohol syndrome, she would be covered," testified a tearful Hilary Downing of Readington, Hunterdon County. "The college savings of my older daughter is gone. " Autism is a developmental disorder characterized by repetitive movement and severe deficits in communication and social interaction.

U.S. Amateur winner Danny Lee was detained by airport authorities in New Zealand for making an "inappropriate comment" while checking in for an international flight at Auckland. Lee, the No. 1-ranked amateur golfer, could be charged for his actions 10 days ago, New Zealand Golf said today. He was with the New Zealand team that was boarding a flight to Adelaide, Australia, to play in the Eisenhower Trophy world team championship. New Zealand Golf chief executive Bill MacGowan confirmed Lee made "an inappropriate comment" to check-in staff.