ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INC. ANNOUNCES ITS SUPPORT FOR THE 2019 NATIONAL COUNCIL OF NEGRO WOMEN HUNGRY FOR EDUCATION TOUR SPONSORED BY DENNY’S

Effort Underscores Fraternity’s Go-To-High School, Go-To-College National Program and Onward HBCU Initiative

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. announced at a press conference that its members will provide support and mentorship as part of the 2019 National Council of Negro Women’s Hungry for Education Tour of seven Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) this Fall.

The tour, which is organized by NCNW as well as sponsored by Denny’s, the Tom Joyner Foundation and PUSH Excel, will visit seven campuses in six cities to encourage college enrollment, academic excellence, and career preparation for students of all backgrounds. Tour stops will be South Carolina State University and Claflin University, Orangeburg, S.C. (Sept. 7); Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Fla. (Sept. 14); Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, Ga. (Sept. 21); Howard University, Washington, D.C. (Sept. 28); Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, Ohio, (Nov. 2); and Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas (Nov. 6).

“We are happy to partner with the National Council of Negro Women on their Hungry for Education HBCU Tour,” said Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. General President Dr. Everett B. Ward. “We plan to provide necessary support and mentorship in each of the selected markets using our Alpha network around the country. We are committed to working with the amazing women in this organization to cultivate and encourage the next cadre of leaders and scholars on HBCU campuses around the country.”

During the tour stops, activities will include panel discussions with celebrity HBCU alumni, marching band performances, campus tours, an overview of campus life including admissions, financial aid, and career counseling, information sessions about Denny’s Hungry for Education scholarships and the opportunity to explore careers at Denny’s. Participating high school students also will have the opportunity to meet current college students, professors, and potential employers.

“At Denny’s, we have found that supporting HBCUs is an incredibly effective way to invest in the diverse communities we serve,” said April Kelly-Drummond, head of Diversity Equality Inclusion & Multicultural Engagement for Denny’s. “HBCUs make up only 3 percent of the colleges and universities in the United States, yet they produce 23 percent of African-American college graduates.”

President Ward explained that the Fraternity has always given their time, talent and treasure to support education and HBCUs, including its Go-To-High School, Go-To-College National Program, the Onward HBCU initiative, the hundreds of scholarships the Fraternity awards at the local level as well as the thousands of dollars donated to organizations like the UNCF and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.

“We are honored to work with NCNW and Denny’s on what we know will be a tremendous experience for scores of young people.”

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Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., headquartered in Baltimore, MD, was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. The Fraternity has long stood at the forefront of the African-American community’s fight for civil rights through Alpha men such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Adam Clayton Powell, Thurgood Marshall, Paul Robeson, Andrew Young, Edward Brooke and Cornel West. The fraternity, through its more than 720 college and alumni chapters and general-organization members, serves communities in the United States, Canada, Africa, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean. Visit http://www.apa1906.net and follow on Twitter @apa1906network.