Alphas

Alpha Phi Alpha Just Donated $31,000 To Keep Bennett College Open

The brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. put their money where their mouth is when it comes to supporting HBCUs and just donated $31,000 to Bennett College to aid the college in its mission to raise a minimum of $5 million by Feb. 1 so that it can keep its accreditation.

Bennett College is currently threatened by loss of accreditation. On Dec. 11, 2018, the college which is one of the two women’s HBCUs in the country was removed from membership in the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges for financial reasons. Bennett immediately appealed the decision and remains accredited during the appeal process.

“Alpha Phi Alpha is honored to present to you a check for $30,000,” General President Everett B. Ward, Ph.D., told Bennett President Dr. Phyllis Worthy Dawkins. “In addition, Alpha men around the world are going to make contributions to Bennett College. God bless you and the women of Bennett College and know that the men of Alpha Phi Alpha support you.”

The Kappa Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, also presented the college a check for $1,000 on behalf of members of the Greensboro chapter.

“On behalf of Bennett College’s Board of Trustees, our faculty, staff and students, thank you to the men of Alpha Phi Alpha for recognizing and standing with Bennett College,” Dawkins said.

Alpha Phi Alpha General President Everett B. Ward, Ph.D, who is also the President of St. Augustine’s University in Raleigh, said he hopes other fraternities and sororities will also support the cause to save Bennett College. “All of our organizations are dedicated to preserving scholarship and ensuring the intelligence of the world is preserved through institutions like Bennett College.”

“Bennett College is trying gallantly to raise a minimum of $5 million by Feb. 1, and gifts like the ones we received today from Alpha Phi Alpha will go a long way toward helping us achieve our goal. On a personal note, I appreciate President Ward for taking time out of his busy schedule to travel to Greensboro to hand-deliver the check. I know how busy he must be as President of St. Augustine’s University and that his time is valuable,” Bennett President Dr. Phyllis Worthy Dawkins stated.

If you or your chapter is interested in donating money to the cause to keep Bennett College open, the official website of the college has given the following ways to help.

Online: bennett.edu/donate
Text2Give: Text the word BELLES to the number 444999
Cash App: $StandwithBennett
S. Mail: Send a check to Bennett College, Office of Institutional Advancement, 900 E. Washington St., Greensboro, N.C. 27401