Greek Organizations Rally for UNCF’s Text To Donate Campaign for Emergency Student Aid To Help Seniors Graduate

FAIRFAX, Va., /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — UNCF—the United Negro College Fund—and the
National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) are partnering to make sure that
seniors at UNCF member colleges graduate on time.  All nine members of
the National Pan-Hellenic Council—Alpha Kappa Alpha, Alpha Phi Alpha,
Delta Sigma Theta, Iota Phi Theta, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, Phi
Beta Sigma, Sigma Gamma Rho and Zeta Phi Beta—are rallying around the
late-January broadcast of UNCF An Evening of Stars® Tribute to Chaka Khan and the UNCF Campaign for Emergency Student Aid (CESA) to raise $250,000
to support recession-impacted graduating seniors who need to pay off
balances for tuition, books and room and board before they can receive
their diplomas.  

The Greek
organizations are joining forces to encourage their undergraduate and
alumni members and friends to participate through the Text To Donate
component of the campaign featured in this year’s UNCF An Evening of Stars® show. From January 1 through February 28th, supporters of each Greek organization will be able to text the letters for their sorority or fraternity to make a $10 donation to UNCF.  Supporters may also visit www.UNCF.org and click on the Campaign for Emergency Student Aid icon to help a child graduate from college.  UNCF An Evening of Stars® Tribute to Chaka Khan will air nationally on more than 40 network stations in major markets on Saturday, January 29th, and on BET Networks on Sunday, January 30th at 10 p.m. and on WGN America (check local listings).  The tribute to Chaka Khan
marks the 32nd anniversary of UNCF’s two-hour entertainment television
special.  A complete list of stations and background information can be
found online at www.aneveningofstars.org.

“We are excited about this new partnership with the National Pan-Hellenic Council and their commitment to education,” said Michael L. Lomax,
Ph.D., UNCF president and CEO.  “Many students at UNCF schools are
still being impacted by the recession and they are finding themselves in
financially vulnerable positions.  All nine Greek organization members
of the National Pan-Hellenic Council understand the importance of an
education and the doors of opportunity it can open.  It’s inspiring for
us to work together with our community to ensure that all children get
the college degrees they need and our nation needs them to have.”  

The National
Pan-Hellenic Council is also establishing a CESA scholarship
specifically for members of its nine Greek organizations; the
scholarship will be administered by UNCF.  

As the
recession lingers, many students at UNCF schools are at risk of having
to drop out of college.  Unemployment and pay cuts still reduce
families’ financial support for their children’s education.   The credit
crunch still keeps private student loans off the market.  And students
still come up short of the funds they need to cover tuition and room and
board balances.  

“The National
Pan-Hellenic Council’s relationship with UNCF is a perfect match.  Our
goals are aligned,” said Council of Presidents Chairman Dwayne M. Murray, Esq.
“Each of our organizations are seeking ways to fund the education
opportunities for young people in all walks of life.  I am calling upon
all Councils of the NPHC to help UNCF in its fundraising efforts and to
watch UNCF An Evening of Stars Tribute to Chaka Khan on January 29th and 30th 2011.” 

With more than 40 years in music behind her, Grammy-winning R&B/soul singer Chaka Khan will be surrounded on the UNCF An Evening of Stars®
stage by the greatest talent in entertainment and education, as she is
presented with the UNCF Award of Excellence.  The award cites her long
entertainment career and support for UNCF and minority education.

This year’s program will feature award-winning singers and performers Stevie Wonder, Fantasia, Angie Stone, Melanie Fiona, Ledisi, El DeBarge, Estelle, Faith Evans, Ginuwine, Bettye LaVette and Herbie Hancock. The parade of celebrities joining Dr. Lomax in celebrating Khan also includes Academy Award winner Mo’Nique, Akon, LeVar Burton, Kim Coles, Taraji P. Henson, Quincy Jones, Tom Joyner, CNN’s Soledad O’Brien, Boris Kodjoe and Nicole Ari Parker, Amber Riley, Bobb’e J. Thompson, Tracie Thoms, Access Hollywood‘s Shaun Robinson, Lauren Velez, and a special taped appearance by Mary J. Blige.
The celebrities will not only entertain but will make special appeals
for all Americans to text to donate to help seniors graduate from
college.

All
Pan-Hellenic Council members, friends and family are encouraged to text
the letters for their fraternity or sorority to 50555 on their cell
phones to donate $10 to help these students walk the last mile to their education.  Individuals can text up to $30
per cell- phone monthly billing cycle.  Supporters may also donate to
the Campaign for Emergency Student Aid online.  To learn more, visit www.aneveningofstars.org and click on the Campaign for Emergency Student Aid icon; or contact Christal Cherry,
UNCF National Director, Alumni, Groups & Faith Partnerships at
(404) 302-8623, for answers to questions about the UNCF-Pan Hellenic
partnership.

Text the following codes to 50555 to help your Greek organization raise money for a graduating senior:

Alpha Kappa Alpha: text UNCF AKA

Alpha Phi Alpha:  text UNCF APA

Delta Sigma Theta: text UNCF DST

Iota Phi Theta:  text UNCF IPT

Kappa Alpha Psi:  text UNCF KAP

Omega Psi Phi:  text UNCF OPP

Phi Beta Sigma:  text UNCF PBS

Sigma Gamma Rho:  text UNCF SGR

Zeta Phi Beta: text UNCF ZPB

About UNCF An Evening of Stars®

UNCF An Evening of Stars®, formerly the Lou Rawls Parade of Stars®,
first aired in 1979, and since that time has become one of the longest
running and most successful televised events in U.S. history. Over its
32-year history, UNCF An Evening of Stars® has raised more than $200 million
that has helped hundreds of thousands of students attend college and
graduate.  In recent years, UNCF An Evening Of Stars® has featured a
Who’s Who of remarkable talent, including Stevie Wonder, John Legend, Chaka Khan, Ne-Yo, Nancy Wilson, Beyonce, Anita Baker, Jill Scott, Whoopi Goldberg, Fantasia, Joss Stone, Jennifer Hudson, Michael Bolton, Natalie Cole, Herbie Hancock, Al Jarreau, Hall and Oates, Ziggy Marley, Maroon 5, and scores of others. UNCF An Evening of Stars® received NAACP Image Awards for its 2006 tribute to Stevie WonderSmokey Robinson. Learn more about UNCF An Evening Of Stars® at www.uncf.org.   and its 2008 tribute to

About UNCF
UNCF—the
United Negro College Fund—is the nation’s largest and most effective
minority education organization.  To serve youth, the community and the
nation, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at over 900 colleges and
universities across the country. UNCF supports education through
scholarships and other programs, by supporting its 39 member colleges
and universities, and by advocating for the importance of minority
education.  UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and
universities are highly effective, awarding 21 percent of African
American baccalaureate degrees. UNCF administers more than 400 programs,
including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer
enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. The UNCF
logo features the torch of leadership in education and its widely
recognized motto, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”® Learn more at www.UNCF.org.

 United Negro College Fund