CLEVELAND, Ohio — A Cleveland man is taking to Facebook to raise money for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), including two in Ohio. 

What You Need To Know

  • Anthony Brown hosts a Facebook Live "HBCU Alumni House Party" on Wednesdays to fundraise

  • Central State University in Ohio has raised the most money so far at $15,000

  • The fundraiser runs until Dec. 31

"Hey, why not engage alumni through three basic things: advocacy, recruitment, and fundraising. So we said, 'Ok, fine, great, let's do it," said Anthony Brown.

Brown of Cleveland is the president of the National Alumni Council for the United Negro College Fund. After seeing the Facebook alumni group he manages grow, he wanted to find a way to raise money for their beloved HBCUs. 

"You know during this coronavirus and this pandemic, we're all stuck at home, right? So I'm like, 'Oh, let's just go live and I can talk to people.' and I said, 'Wait a minute—there are people watching. Oh wait, there's a lot more people watching. Oh, let's play some background music. Oh, wait a minute, let's make this a party!' So we ended up calling it the HBCU Alumni House Party," said Brown.

Every Wednesday, Brown hops on Facebook live playing music and interviewing representatives of the schools that are being featured that week. So far, in 10 weeks, the schools Brown highlighted have raised $80,700. Central State University in Ohio raised the most money.

"Central State right now ... they raised $15,000 in their week," said Brown.

Wilberforce University, also in Ohio, just finished its fundraising campaign last week.

"We raised around 70 percent of our goal. So, we're really excited that our alumni got involved, got connected to us. We're going to keep pushing them obviously because we want to make 100%"," said Natalie Coles, vice president of advancement and chief development officer at Wilberforce University.

She said the money raised from the Facebook fundraiser will help the school with technology as courses are moved online for this school year.

"We just decided last week to go to a completely virtual learning modality so all of our students will be virtual for the first time in the history of Wilberforce. So what that means is we need a lot of support around technology. We need support to help our students get wifi, to help our students get laptops. I mean, these are all the things we are furiously raising money for right now so these funds will be used to further that cause," said Coles.

Brown said the fundraiser is a way for alumni and supporters of HBCUs to come together to help the schools during this time of need.

"We are stronger together when we are standing united," said Brown.

The donated funds are unrestricted dollars so schools can use them in whatever capacity they are needed.

 

The fundraising started June 1 and will go through Dec. 31.