UNCF to host 2nd Annual “A Mind Is…”®

by Urban Views RVA August 13, 2022

Smooth Jazz Concert Gala, supporting HBCUs and Students

RICHMOND, VA —The second annual UNCF (United Negro College Fund) “A Mind Is…”® Smooth Jazz Concert Gala is set for 6 p.m., Friday, Sept. 30. The event will feature renowned jazz artist Tim Bowman, a chart-topping guitarist who has a way of melding smooth jazz, gospel, soul and blues making it seem effortlessly. Master soprano saxophonist Rick Elliot will also be performing as the VIP reception artist.

To be recognized as the 2022 UNCF Keeper of the Flame honorees will be Dr. Antionette V. Irving, Richmond City Sheriff and founder of AVI Foundation Incorporated, and the Rev. Tommy Fleming, senior pastor of First Union Baptist Church Richmond. Rev. Fleming is better known in the community as the former “Tommy Gunn” of Urban One Radio and WJZV Smooth Jazz Radio.

UNCF supports 37 member private historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) across the United States, as well as approximately 60,000 students annually. Virginia Union University is one of the UNCF-member HBCUs. This event helps to support both HBCUs and their students across Virginia as well as those across the U.S. who lack the financial support to get to and through college successfully.

“Our goal is to be able to provide every local minority student with the funds they need to support their college education and promote awareness of UNCF across the state,” said Dana Brown, area development director, UNCF. “During the 2020-2021 academic year, we were able to give more than $1.3 million in scholarships to talented, deserving Virginia students.”

More than 250 civic and business leaders, education professionals and guests from across Virginia are expected to attend.

Sponsors and partners of the UNCF “A Mind Is…”® Smooth Jazz Concert Gala are Geico, Dominion Energy and Truist, Virginia Union University and media partner Urban Views RVA.

“For more than 78 years, UNCF has fueled HBCUs with vital resources to educate generations of African American and other minority students,” said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO, UNCF. “During an unprecedented time in our history compounded by continuing COVID-19 and racial disparities, our students and institutions are faced with enormous challenges.

Support is needed now more than ever as students and institutions deal with unexpected financial hurdles due to the on-going health pandemic. We invite everyone in the Richmond and surrounding areas of Virginia to support our Smooth Jazz Concert Gala to help ensure better futures for us all.”

To learn more, donate or purchase tickets for the event, please go to UNCF.org/RichmondJazz. For more information, contact Dana Brown or Dianna Ruffin at 804.359.1581 or by email at dana.brown@uncf.org or dianna.ruffin@uncf.org.