Back in July, McDonald's launched the Black & Positively Golden Scholarship Fund—worth $500,000—to help students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) continue their education despite the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The scholarship program is facilitated in partnership with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and the scholarships were distributed for the 2020-2021 academic year.
McDonald's now has exciting plans to expand the Black & Positively Golden Scholarship program. The restaurant chain is teaming up with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund once again, as well as ESSENCE Girls United and iHeart Media to "help the next generation of leaders take steps today to own tomorrow."
“We are honored to partner with Essence Girls United, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and iHeart Media to provide opportunities for HBCU students and alumni along their education, leadership and entrepreneurship journey,” Margaret “Marty” Gillis, New Jersey Owner/Operator and Owner/Operator Marketing Committee Lead of McDonald's, said in a statement. “McDonald’s and its owner/operators are committed to fostering the communities we serve while furthering Black excellence through initiatives like our HBCU programs that are positively shaping communities and lives.”
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This expansion will allow McDonald's to build on its commitment to supporting and uplifting the Black community by providing mentorship opportunities, seed capital for entrepreneurs, college scholarships and more to HBCU students. This fall, McDonald's will roll out three exciting programs in support of HBCU's this fall—McDonald’s Black & Positively Golden Scholarship Winner Surprises, McDonald’s x ESSENCE Girls United “Making Moves Now” Entrepreneurship Bootcamp & Pitch Competition and McDonald’s HBCU Homecoming Celebration.
The McDonald’s Black & Positively Golden Scholarship Winner Surprises will see 34 of America’s brightest HBCU students receive a $15,000 McDonald’s Black & Positively Golden Scholarship. The recipients als receive a school supply delivery to their doorsteps, which included a tablet with a special congratulatory video from fellow HBCU alumni, including Terrence J, Ashley Blaine Featherson, KJ Smith, Quad Webb and David Banner.
The McDonald’s HBCU Homecoming Celebration is an up-lifting, month-long HBCU homecoming celebration which showcases school pride while simultaneously elevating student achievement across iHeart’s platforms. The celebration will bring together HBCU students and alumni with their favorite musical artists, influencers and entertainment.
McDonald’s x ESSENCE Girls United “Making Moves Now” Entrepreneurship Bootcamp & Pitch Competition is a multi-week program designed to help entrepreneurs get their businesses off the ground. During the program, McDonald’s awarded MIVE and Lillian Augusta with $10,000 in seed capital to help fund their start up businesses.
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