Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
September 11, 2025
UNCF's 42nd Chicago Walk for Education Aims to Transform Lives Through Scholarships
TLDR
- 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.
Impact - Why it Matters
This event directly addresses educational inequity by providing critical scholarship support that enables first-generation and underrepresented students to pursue higher education. The funding raised helps break cycles of poverty and creates pathways to economic mobility, particularly important in communities where college affordability remains a significant barrier. By supporting UNCF's mission, participants contribute to diversifying the professional workforce and ensuring that talented students from all backgrounds have access to quality education, ultimately strengthening communities and the national economy through increased educational attainment and career opportunities.
Summary
The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) is gearing up for its 42nd Annual Chicago Walk for Education on September 13, 2025, at Burnham Park. This premier grassroots fundraising event, co-chaired by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, aims to provide crucial scholarship support for underrepresented students. Lisa Rollins, UNCF Development Director, emphasized that "for every one kid we give a scholarship to, there are five more who need it," highlighting how a $5,000 scholarship can transform the life of a first-generation college student and their family.
The event features multiple participation options including a 5K walk/run and 10K bike/skate, with registration available at www.UNCF.org/chicagowalk or on-site starting at 7:00 am. The celebration will be emceed by Omni Channel Radio Personality Davante "Stone Pony" Stone along with media personalities Frankie Robinson and Tamera Fair, featuring music, dancing, food, and family activities. The 2025 Walk honors distinguished Grand Marshals including Dr. Macquline King of Chicago Public Schools, Reggie Summerise of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, and community influencers, with the Chicago chapter of the National Pan-Hellenic Council partnering to mobilize its Divine Nine organizations in support of educational opportunities.
As the nation's largest minority education organization, UNCF supports over 60,000 students at more than 1,100 colleges and universities, focusing on increasing college readiness, enrollment, and graduation rates for underrepresented students. Despite representing only 3% of all colleges, UNCF institutions and historically Black colleges award 15% of bachelor's degrees, 19% of STEM degrees, and significant percentages of advanced degrees earned by Black students. The organization administers more than 400 programs including scholarships, internships, and faculty development, living up to its iconic motto: "A mind is a terrible thing to waste."
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by 24-7 Press Release. Read the original source here, UNCF's 42nd Chicago Walk for Education Aims to Transform Lives Through Scholarships
