Bethune-Cookman University to receive $300,000 from NBA Foundation to help prepare young Black men for college | Observer Local News

Bethune-Cookman University was recently selected to be part of the NBA Foundation’s 14th grant round and will receive $300,000, funds which the university will use to continue preparing young Black men for college and beyond.

According to a press release, the funding from the NBA Foundation’s 14th grant round — which awarded a total of $16.3 million to nonprofit organizations across the U.S. — will go toward B-CU’s Black Male College Explorers Program, established in 1993 to provide mentorship and guidance to local youth in sixth through twelfth grade. 

“This generous investment of $300,000 from the NBA Foundation enables us to expand our influence and support young Black men as they begin to carve out their futures,” said Dr. Sherry Paramore, vice president of Institutional Advancement at B-CU. “Together, we are not merely altering individual life trajectories but also fostering the development of stronger, more resilient communities through education, empowerment, and access to meaningful opportunities.”

The Black Male College Explorers Program aims to cultivate academic excellence, foster high school graduation, promote access to post-secondary education, and ensure long-term personal and professional success, the press release states. Participants have access to individualized tutoring, one-on-one mentoring, as well as college and career exploration opportunities.