African American Scholarship Fund

On Wednesday, March 28, 2007, the California Community Foundation announced the establishment of a $1.75 million scholarship fund to support 100 renewable scholarships for African American freshmen admitted to the University of California, Los Angeles. The foundation seeks to raise up to $2 million for the scholarship fund by the time the funds are released in fall of 2007.

The African American Scholarship Fund includes funds to cover loan and work study costs for eligible students, as well as funds for merit-based awards.  

Admissions and enrollment rates for African American students at UCLA declined steeply when Proposition 209 went into effect, beginning with the fall 1998 freshman class. Admission rates dipped to 2.1% in 2006 compared with 6.6% in fall of 1995. The initiative prohibits the consideration of race, gender or ethnicity in the admissions or recruitment of students at public universities. In 2006, only 249 African American students were admitted and 100 enrolled as freshmen out of the entire freshmen student body of 4,809.

“These steps by alumni, donors and the community represent a major step forward in our efforts to increase the number of qualified African Americans who are admitted to UCLA, and enroll,” said Peter Taylor, chair of the UCLA African American Alumni Association and Community Support Task Force. “We can and will preserve the great heritage of young African American leaders at UCLA —leaders who are equipped with a first-class education and who go on to accomplish great things for our communities. I am proud the UCLA family is stepping up to the plate, and that we’re seeing decisive action that will make a difference.”

Contributions to the California Community Foundation represent irrevocable gifts subject to the legal and fiduciary control of the foundation's Board of Directors.

Click here to make a secure contribution to this fund now.