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The only Catholic HBCU in the nation has an ambitious fundraising goal in its sights. In March 2024, Louisiana’s Xavier University raised $100 million as a milestone in its $500 million Centennial Campaign.
The Centennial Campaign has four key initiatives broken down to meet its $500 million Centennial Campaign goal. It is founded on the university’s mission to create a more humane and just society through education.
1. $250 million Increasing Affordability & Access Through Financial Assistance
2. $75 million Matching Our Campus to Our Potential
3. $105 million Investing in the Well-Being & Success of the Entire Student Body
4. $70 million Recruiting and Retaining Exceptional Faculty & Expanding Academic Programs
“This important fundraising milestone is a testament to Xavier’s value as an institution that produces some of our nation’s most thoughtful, intelligent leaders – leaders who are ready to take on our greatest challenges,” said Reynold Verret, President of Xavier University of Louisiana in a statement. “Our generous supporters know that an investment in Xavier is not only an investment in our current students, but it’s an investment in social justice, racial justice, and the future of our communities.”
HBCUs are severely underfunded.
Unfortunately, support for HBCUs as a whole has plummeted over the years. New findings show that the colleges have collectively received $12.6 billion less than they should have over the last few decades.
“Unacceptable funding inequities have forced many of our nation’s distinguished historically Black colleges and universities to operate with inadequate resources and delay critical investments in everything from campus infrastructure to research and development to student support services,” U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a statement in September 2023. “To compete in the 21st century, we need state leaders to step up and live up to their legally required obligations to our historically Black land-grant institutions.”
Xavier University’s Centennial Campaign is being pushed by elite committee members.
In May 2015, former basketball star Earvin “Magic” Johnson received an honorary doctor of business degree from Xavier University. He also currently serves on the Centennial Campaign’s honorary campaign committee.
As Xavier University celebrates reaching such a notable advancement in its bigger goal, the Centennial Campaign persists.
“Xavier continues to solidify itself as an educational leader and option for young people looking to become trailblazers of tomorrow,” said Campaign Chair Gladstone Jones. In addition, Jones added, “I am beyond confident that by surpassing this first campaign milestone, we are well on our way to reaching our total $500 million goal and setting up Xavier for its next century of excellence and triumphs.”
Xavier University is not only the first Catholic HBCU but also the first Catholic university founded by a saint. In 2000, the Catholic church canonized Katharine Drexel as the second American-born saint. Additionally, Pope John Paul II declared Saint Katharine Drexel the patron saint of racial justice and philanthropy.
While raising $100 million is progress, Xavier University welcomes the continued support of generous donors. You can learn more about the campaign, leadership, and ways to give on the university’s website.
The author’s content and opinions have not been pre-reviewed, approved or endorsed by Discover.