In 1943, Dr. Frederick D. Patterson, president of what is now Tuskegee University, urged his fellow black college presidents to raise money collectively through an "appeal to the national conscience." The next year, on April 25, 1944, Dr. Patterson, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune and others incorporated the United Negro College Fund with 27 member colleges. Early supporters of the UNCF included President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. That first effort raised $760,000, a sum that would be worth approximately $8.6 million today.
Over the years, the idea and mission of UNCF have attracted hundreds of thousands, who through their gifts and their goodwill have helped us to keep our students focused on achieving their college degrees. Numbered among our friends was Sen. John F. Kennedy, who later became president of the United States. In 1959, he donated the proceeds from his Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Profiles in Courage, to UNCF.
In 1972, Forest Long, an executive at Young and Rubicam, the renowned ad agency, created the UNCF tagline "A mind is a terrible thing to waste." He explained that it represented a "plea to everybody to reject the prejudices of the past and consider the inner person." The tagline has become one of the most recognized slogans in advertising history.
Buoyed by the whole-hearted support of individuals, foundations, organizations, groups and corporations who have generously volunteered their time and donated their resources, our schools have achieved inordinate successes. Graduates of UNCF schools have made lasting contributions to our nation by building successful careers, supporting their families and changing their neighborhoods. They now enjoy freedom and independence that only a great education can provide.
Learn more about the impact of Dr. Frederick Patterson's vision and how UNCF has impacted American history and culture:
Roots That Run Deep – A historical look at the impact of the United Negro College Fund and its member institutions on American history.
UNCF Timeline – A look a UNCF's historical milestones and achievements.
Southern Viewpoint – A copy of the original article written by Dr. Frederick Patterson in 1943 in which he challenged black colleges to join him in making a common appeal for funds in support of their efforts.
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