2010 Archive

WASHINGTON – Against the backdrop of critical financial need for so many more students, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) will host its 18^th Mervyn L. Jones and Stephanie Tubbs Jones Annual Scholarship Golf and Tennis Classic at Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Va., from June 12-14. The Congressional Black Caucus Spouses will also lend their assistance in this fundraising effort.

For the past two decades CBCF and the Spouses have offered financial assistance to thousands of aspiring college students, raising more than $10 million in scholarship funds. “A third of CBCF’s mission is to develop tomorrow’s leaders today, along with informing policy and educating the public,” said Elsie L. Scott, president and chief executive officer for CBCF. “We want to ensure that all students have the same opportunity to pursue a good education and their dreams,” she said.

The scholarship program is broad and includes the following opportunities:

• Louis Stokes Health Scholars Program

• Strive for Excellence Scholarship

• Environmental Studies Scholarship
  Louis Stokes CBCF Scholarship at Case Western University

• CBC Spouses Flexible Education Scholarship (University of Phoenix)

• The CBC Spouses Education Scholarship Fund

• The CBC Spouses Cheerios Brand Health Initiative Scholarship

• The CBC Spouses Heineken USA Performing Arts Scholarship Program

• The CBC Spouses Visual Arts Scholarship

While the number of scholarship applicants far outmatched the available funding, last year the Foundation was able to distribute more than $700,000 to more than 350 students. “In 2009 there were 300 requests for the Visual and Performing Arts scholarship programs and we were able to award 19 scholarships,” said Mereda Davis Johnson, chair of the Spouses. “We expect to see similar requests this year, which is why it is so important for us to raise these funds.”

Paige Kelly of Emory University clearly understands what it is like to be in need. “My family and I extend our sincere thanks to CBCF for awarding me a scholarship. It was much needed and greatly appreciated during these tough economic times, especially with an unemployed parent.”

The Scholarship Classic was renamed in 2009 after the death of Rep. Tubbs Jones of Ohio.