The United Negro College Fund (UNCF), in partnership with FM Omni-Channel Radio Station™, recently hosted its first-ever Omni-Channel Radio-thon as part of its 80th-anniversary celebrations. The event aimed to raise funds for college scholarships and continues to accept donations until June 30, the end of Black Music Month. Contributions can be made at www.OmniChannelRadio.com or www.UNCF.org/Chicago.
Lisa Rollins, UNCF Regional Development Director, noted that many donors are contributing in multiples of eight to honor the milestone anniversary. Donations have ranged from $8 to $800 and beyond, with each contribution significantly aiding a deserving student's path to higher education.
Adding a touch of excitement to the fundraising efforts, renowned fashion designer Barbara Bates has donated a custom, one-of-a-kind women's leather jacket valued at $2,000. Donors are automatically entered into a drawing for the jacket, with each dollar donated equating to one entry. The winner will be announced at the end of the program in June.
The Radio-thon adapted the format of the long-standing United Negro College Fund Telethon, which was previously known as the Lou Rawls Parade of Stars Telethon for UNCF. The 24-hour livestream event featured a parade of celebrities from various fields, including music, media, sports, and entertainment, who either called into the station or sent recorded messages of support.
Music legends such as Grammy Award-winner Ray Parker, Jr., Dennis Edwards of the Temptations, and Evelyn "Champagne" King were among those who encouraged listeners to donate. Other notable participants included Gerald Alston (The Manhattans), Marshall Thompson (The Chi-Lites), Billy Brown (Ray, Goodman & Brown), Russell Thompkins, Jr. (The Stylistics), Ron Isley (The Isley Brothers), Antonio Fargas (Huggy Bear), and many more.
Local media personalities like Tonya Francisco of WGN and Hermene Hartman of N'Digo also joined the event, adding to the festive atmosphere.
From 2022 to 2023, UNCF awarded 541 scholarships to students in Illinois, underscoring its commitment to minority education. The organization's iconic motto, now revised, still resonates: "A mind is a terrible thing to waste, but a wonderful thing to invest in™."
UNCF, the nation's largest and most effective minority education organization, supports students through scholarships and other programs, strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities award 17 percent of African American baccalaureate degrees. The organization administers over 400 programs and supports more than 60,000 students at over 1,100 colleges and universities across the country. For more details, visit UNCF.org.
