On April 24, 1950, the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) was officially founded to provide financial support to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and deserving African American students. While the idea was first organized in 1944, the foundation’s legal and institutional formalization occurred in 1950. The UNCF became famous for its iconic motto: “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.” Over the decades, it has awarded billions in scholarships and become a vital pillar in the advancement of Black higher education in the United States, supporting leaders across fields from science to politics.
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