Photo: Howard Newsroom
Thanks to a $100,000 gift from the historic Alfred Street Baptist Church, 34 graduating seniors at Howard University no longer have to worry about outstanding tuition and fees preventing them from graduating in May.
As part of a church-wide financial fast called Seek 2019, the members of the Alfred Street Baptist Church were encouraged to cut out frivolous spending throughout the month of January. To conclude the fast, an offering of all the funds that the congregation collectively saved over the fast was collected. They expected about $10,000. However, the church raised over $150,000 and decided to gift the entire amount to two HBCUs: Howard and Bennett College.
“The funds were spent by giving Bennett College $50K (the largest amount given by any church) and the remaining funds were used as gap scholarships for 34 seniors at Howard University that had financial holds on their accounts preventing them from graduating,” Brooke Watson told Because of Them We Can. “This was done with the accounting department and then our ministerial team met with each of them to let them know their accounts were at a zero balance and they would be walking the stage in May.”
Watch these Howard seniors react to finding out that their outstanding tuition and fees have been paid off, but grab a tissue first.
“The gift of $100,000 from Alfred Street Baptist Church to help our students pay off their financial obligations and make ends meet just before they graduate is truly a blessing,” said Howard President Wayne A. I. Frederick in a press release. “Their generosity is a reminder of how one person’s selfless act of kindness can be multiplied and have a profound impact on the lives of others.”
The Alfred Street Baptist Church was established in 1803 and recognized as one of the nation’s oldest African American congregations. The Alexandria, Virginia church is now gearing up for its 17th annual HBCU Festival on February 23. As one of the nation’s largest HBCU college fairs, over 10,000 high school students attended the fair last year.
Kudos to the Alfred Street Baptist Church for continuously investing in present and future HBCU students.