Diageo to Award 3 HBCUs $250,000 to Advance Educational Equity

Diageo North America said it is providing an additional $1.75 million in endowments to support Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority-Serving Institutions.

The additional funding is an expansion of the company’s initial $10M in endowments granted to 25 HBCUs in 2021, as part of Diageo’s commitment to inclusion and diversity.  This unique endowment and development program works to shape a more equitable society and address educational barriers in underrepresented communities across the U.S., Diageo said.

The initiative provides direct grants for talented students in need and funds development programs that complement traditional learning. These resources will be available to students and faculty, and include lectures and mentorship from Diageo executives, skills training to cultivate future-ready talent, and bringing together leaders across public and private organizations to create solutions that help advance sustainable growth across these institutions.

The three new HBCU schools, Tougaloo College in Jackson, MS; Cheyney University of Pennsylvania in Cheyney, PA; and Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA will each receive $250,000 in grants for need based scholarships.

Expanding our program to additional higher education institutions further affirms our recognition and commitment to address structural barriers to educational and economic opportunities in the U.S.," said Stephanie Childs, Executive Vice President, Corporate Relations, Diageo North America. “We believe our additional investments, will help provide students with employable skills and support the development of the next generation of entrepreneurs and leaders.”