Contact: Neil Foote, Tom Joyner Foundation Spokesperson214.448.3765, neil@neilfoote.com
For Immediate Release
(Dallas, TX – September 12, 2007) Tennessee State University is the featured September ‘School of the Month’ for the Tom Joyner Foundation®.
In conjunction with the Foundation, Tennessee State University is engaged in an aggressive campaign to raise money from alumni, friends and supporters of black colleges to help keep students attending Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs). The university’s distinguished alumni include Oprah Winfrey, Olympic Gold Medalists Wilma Rudolph and Ralph Boston, Gospel great Amb. Bobby Jones and media legend Xernona Clayton and Dallas Cowboys star Ed “Too Tall” Jones.
Founded in 1912, the university has been listed for the past thirteen years in the U.S. News & World Report “Guide to America’s Best Colleges.” It offers 45 bachelor’s degrees and 24 master’s degrees. Doctoral degrees are offered in seven areas: biological sciences, psychology, public administration, curriculum and instruction, administration and supervision, computer information systems engineering and physical therapy.
“We’re grateful to all the donors and their support of HBCUs,” said Tom Joyner, the Foundation’s chairman and host of the ‘Tom Joyner Morning Show’, which reaches nearly eight million listeners every week in 120 markets. “For all you Tennessee State University alumni and friends, here’s your chance to make a difference in these students’ lives and help TSU survive another 95 years.”
The Foundation said Tennessee State was chosen as part of its on-going effort to help these HBCUs broaden and strengthen their efforts to raise money to help keep students in school. As one of the Tom Joyner Foundation ‘Schools of the Month’, Tennessee State will receive funds raised from listeners, alumni and other interested parties during the month of September.
Throughout the month, the Tom Joyner Morning Show will promote the university and award scholarships to deserving students. Additionally, Joyner’s family has strong ties to the university – Joyner’s mother – Francis Dumas Joyner, is a graduate, and his great aunt, Joan C. Elliott, started the university’s cafeteria program.
For the remainder of the year, the Foundation’s ‘Schools of the Month’ are Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, FL for October and Savannah State University in Savannah, GA for November. For information about the scholarship program, students should contact their school administrators directly to determine their eligibility.
The Foundation recently launched the “Brothers on the Move” scholarship that provides black male students at the ‘School of the Month’ a $1,500 scholarship. The scholarship is awarded every Thursday on the Tom Joyner Morning Show, which is aired in 120 markets reaching nearly eight million listeners every week. The Foundation offers scholarships to students attending its Schools of the Month throughout the week. On Mondays, scholarships are awarded to deserving students who are single parents, and on Wednesdays, general scholarships are announced.
Founded in 1998, the Tom Joyner Foundation has raised more than $55 million to help keep students enrolled in black colleges. It has assisted more than 14,000 students and worked with more than 100 HBCUs. To learn more about the Foundation, go to BlackAmericaWeb.com (http://blackamericaweb.com).
