TIFFANY & CO. PARTNERS WITH BEYONCÉ AND JAY-Z DONATES $2 MILLION TO HBCUS IN NEED
As promised, Tiffany & Co. will be donating $2 million to 5 Historically Black Colleges and Universities to support their most recent campaign, “About Love,” with Jay-Z and Beyoncé.
Lincoln University, Bennet College, Norfolk State University, University of Arkansas, and Central State University in Ohio were the final selections.
HBCUs “have served as an integral part of Black culture for over 150 years, and as an iconic American brand, Tiffany & Co. is proud to acknowledge, support and highlight historic and present Black influences that have been fundamental in shaping our current narrative,” the company said in a statement. “Rooted in the critical need to support the next generation, the Tiffany & Co. About Love Scholarship program expands access and creates opportunities for students within the very institutions that shape art and culture.”
As an HBCU alum, it speaks volumes that Tiffany & Co. did their research and donated to smaller Black institutions in need. Large companies who contribute to HBCUs usually give to those they see as well-established and hold more prestige. Smaller HBCUs miss out on the more significant donations most of the time, and many are at risk for closure because the more visibility an institution has, the easier it is to attract more prominent donors.
For example, Bennet College in North Carolina had to turn to crowdfunding after losing its accreditation last December because of its financial instability. The college raised roughly $8.2 million in almost three months after launching its #StandWithBennett campaign to regain its accreditation.
Luckily, with the help of Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Tiffany & Co. selected private and state institutions that were in need. It was announced by Tiffany & Co. that its HBCU efforts for the ‘About Love’ campaign are in partnership with Beyoncé’s BeyGood foundation and Jay-Z’s Shawn Carter Foundation. BeyGood foundation supports education, health, housing, water scarcity, disaster relief, and more. The Shawn Carter Foundation helps individuals facing socio-economic hardships to further their education.
Applications for the About Love Scholarships are open to students who qualify for financial aid determined by their school. The online application will open on Sept. 10 and Close on Sept. 26. It’s available to students pursuing a degree in history, communications, visual arts, media, performance, and design.
