UNCF Chicago Hosts 42nd Annual Walk for Education to Support Minority Students
TL;DR
UNCF's Chicago Walk for Education offers participants a chance to gain community recognition while supporting scholarships that create educational advantages for underrepresented students.
The UNCF Walk for Education on September 13, 2025, operates through 5K walk/run and 10K bike/skate events with registration available online or on-site at Burnham Park.
UNCF's annual walk raises scholarship funds that transform lives for first-generation college students and their families, building a more educated and equitable society.
The UNCF Chicago Walk features music, dancing, food, and celebrity hosts while supporting scholarships that help Black students earn 19% of all STEM degrees.
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The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) will hold its 42nd Annual Chicago Walk for Education on September 13, 2025, at Burnham Park, marking a significant community effort to support educational opportunities for minority students. The event serves as UNCF's premier grassroots fundraising initiative, providing crucial support to colleges, universities, and students through contributions from individuals, corporations, and various group donors.
Lisa Rollins, UNCF Development Director, emphasized the transformative power of scholarships, stating that "for every one kid we give a scholarship to, there are five more who need it." She highlighted how the average $5,000 scholarship can singularly change the life of a first-generation college student and their family. This underscores the critical importance of community-supported events like the Walk for Education in addressing educational disparities.
Participants can register for a 5K walk/run or a 10K bike/skate either individually, by joining a team, or forming their own team through https://www.uncf.org/chicagowalk. The event offers music, dancing, food, and family-friendly activities, creating a community atmosphere while supporting a vital cause. Registration opens at 7:00 a.m. on race day, with the event kicking off at 9:00 a.m.
The 2025 Walk features significant community leadership, with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle serving as chairs. Media personality Davante "Stone Pony" Stone will emcee the event alongside Frankie Robinson and Tamera Fair. The event honors several Grand Marshals, including Dr. Macquline King, Interim Superintendent/CEO of Chicago Public Schools, and Reggie Summerise, President of the National Pan-Hellenic Council Chicago, which is partnering to mobilize its Divine Nine organizations in support of scholarships.
UNCF's impact extends far beyond this single event. As the nation's largest and most effective minority education organization, UNCF supports students' education and development through scholarships and other programs while strengthening its 37 member colleges and universities. Despite representing only 3% of all colleges and universities, UNCF institutions and other historically Black colleges and universities award 15% of bachelor's degrees, 5% of master's degrees, 10% of doctoral degrees, and 19% of all STEM degrees earned by Black students in higher education.
The organization administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship, fellowship, mentoring, and summer enrichment programs, currently supporting more than 60,000 students at over 1,100 colleges and universities nationwide. The Chicago Walk for Education represents a critical component of this broader mission, directly contributing to UNCF's top priority of increasing the total number of underrepresented college graduates by ensuring more students are college-ready, enroll in college, and continue to graduation.
Curated from 24-7 Press Release
