Former Presidents Raise Money for Black Colleges

The former presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton have teamed up with the United Negro College Fund to raise money for scholarships and to rebuild historically black colleges that were damaged by last year’s Gulf Coast hurricanes, The Chronicle of Higher Education reports.

The United Negro College Fund raised $4-million in emergency scholarship funds immediately after the hurricanes hit, and Michael L. Lomax, the organization’s president, said his group hopes to raise an additional $10-million with help from the former presidents. Mr. Bush and Mr. Clinton helped raise $30-million for Gulf Coast colleges and universities through their Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund, a nonprofit organization the two men set up to provide grants to charities assisting survivors of the hurricanes.

Mr. Lomax said it would take more than $300-million to restore the seven colleges hit hardest by the hurricanes, and said Mr. Bush and Mr. Clinton will be actively involved in the group’s fund-raising efforts, including writing letters, filming public-service announcements, and making speeches. (A paid subscription is required to view this article).