The Forward Foundation is proud to award The Pay It Forward Grant to Tri-County HBCU Alliance on behalf of Black American Engineering Scholarship Award mentor Jacques Smith.
Pay It Forward Grant: Tri-County HBCU Alliance
Jacques donates his time and talent as a mentor to The Forward Foundation’s Black American Engineering Scholarship Award. This program combines education with mentorship to increase racial equity in the field of engineering by funding students with scholarships and providing them with professional mentors to assist them in their challenging university programs.
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The Pay It Forward Mentorship Grant was created to show gratitude for individuals like Mr. Smith who donate their time as mentors. At the close of the school year, each mentor is awarded a $2,500 grant from the Forward Foundation and is provided with the opportunity to direct the grant in their name to a public charity or educational institution of their choice.
Mr. Smith has directed $1,500 to Tri-County HBCU Alliance, which serves as a bridge between students and the resources available at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), emphasizing the importance of these institutions in shaping future leaders.
The Tri-County HBCU Alliance aims to connect HBCU alumni in the Tri-County area for collaboration and networking opportunities, whose mission is to inspire students to plan for their future beyond high school by increasing awareness of educational and cultural opportunities at HBCUs. The organization’s vision involves developing and sustaining a networking atmosphere that helps students and parents become knowledgeable about HBCUs. They strive to provide high-quality programs and services through workshops and activities. The alliance emphasizes the importance of community support in achieving its goals and encourages involvement from individuals who share their vision.
Mr. Smith has also directed $500 to The Kaizen Foundation, which supports financial literacy in underprivileged communities, and $500 to Fort Mill Care Center, which provides families Fort Mill and Tega Cay, South Carolina aid with food, utilities, and prescriptions.
