UNCF Black & White Ball Returns for 25th Anniversary, Aims to Raise $1 Million in Scholarships

The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Chicago will host its 25th Annual Black & White Ball on June 14, 2025, returning to its classic black and white theme while pursuing an ambitious $1 million scholarship fundraising goal. The gala will recognize two notable honorees: Ariel Investments, receiving the 'A Mind Is...' Corporate Award, and Nadia Rawlinson, Co-owner and Operating Chair of the Chicago Sky, who will receive the 'A Mind Is...' Trailblazer Award.

This milestone event highlights UNCF's significant impact on minority education. From 2022 to 2023, the organization awarded 541 scholarships to students in Illinois, continuing its mission of supporting educational opportunities for underserved communities. Gala Chair Sherina Edwards, an alumna of Howard University and Spelman College, emphasized the organization's crucial role in helping students access higher education.

The evening will feature entertainment by R&B group After 7, promising an engaging mix of purpose and celebration. By targeting a $1 million fundraising goal, UNCF aims to provide critical financial support for students seeking to pursue college degrees, particularly within historically underrepresented communities.

UNCF's ongoing commitment to education is reflected in its impactful statistics: while representing only 3% of all colleges and universities, UNCF institutions and historically Black colleges and universities award significant percentages of degrees, including 15% of bachelor's degrees and 19% of STEM degrees earned by Black students in higher education.