Mayor Brandon Johnson and the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) are joining forces to support students in Chicago. On Thursday, Feb. 6, the 2025 Mayor’s Benefit Reception on Education will take place at the Winter Garden in the Harold Washington Library from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The event, chaired by Mayor Johnson, aims to raise funds for programs that help underrepresented students access higher education. UNCF’s partnership with the city stretches back decades, underscoring the ongoing need for investment in education.
“We are so grateful that Mayor Brandon Johnson is renewing the long-standing partnership between the City of Chicago and UNCF Chicago. Our students need this level of support more than ever,” said Lisa M. Rollins, UNCF Regional Development Director.
From 2022 to 2023, UNCF awarded scholarships to 515 Illinois students. In its 81 years, the organization has raised over $5 billion, helping more than 500,000 students not just attend college but graduate and build careers.
Each year, UNCF distributes more than $100 million in scholarships to students at over 1,100 schools nationwide, including 37 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Many of the nation’s Black professionals—70 percent of Black doctors, 50 percent of Black lawyers, and 80 percent of Black judges—earned their degrees from HBCUs.
Tickets and sponsorships for the 2025 Mayor’s Benefit Reception on Education are available. For more information, visit https://myle.com/2025-mayor-reception or call 312-845-2200. Follow UNCF on social media @UNCFChicago and #UNCFChicago.
