Supporting Minority Education

Sponsor Organization:United Negro College Fund
Campaign Website:www.uncf.org
Volunteer Agency:Y & R, New York

The United Negro College Fund has had a profoundly positive impact on the lives of millions of minority students. The organization has helped more than 350,000 minority students graduate from college. However, despite their gains, a persistent gap in education remains between African Americans and other students and between low-income students and their more affluent peers. According to UNCF, the high cost of college and the lack of financial assistance are the major reasons that students don't enter or complete college.

By highlighting the leadership and accomplishments of important African Americans and their inventions and innovations, the new PSA campaign asks potential donors to consider the impact of minority education on their own lives and, “Support minority education today, so we don’t miss out on the next big idea tomorrow.” 

Together, we hope to impact tomorrow’s world by opening up educational opportunities for minority youth today, because a mind is a terrible thing to waste.

Graduates of UNCF institutions have made lasting contributions to our nation by building successful careers in the fields of business, politics, health care and the arts, to name a few. Some prominent UNCF alumni include: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., director Spike Lee, actor Samuel L. Jackson, General Chappie James (the U.S. Air Force's first African American four-star general), Alexis Herman, (Secretary of Labor in the Clinton Administration), Alice Walker, (author) Leontyne Price (opera singer), and Brown University president Dr. Ruth Simmons (first African American president of an Ivy League school).

The UNCF began its relationship with the Ad Council and volunteer agency Young & Rubicam in 1972.  Ever since, we’ve been partners in reminding people that “A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste.”  To find out more about the history of this campaign, please go to our Historic Campaigns section.