Reps. Alma Adams and French Hill Celebrate Synchrony Bank Foundation Gift to Arkansas HBCU
Co-chairs of Bipartisan HBCU Caucus Welcome Gift to University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (D, NC-12), and Congressman French Hill (R, AR-2) joined today to celebrate a $500,000 gift by the Synchrony Foundation to the University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff (UAPB), a Historically Black College in Rep. Hill’s district. The two Members are co-chairs of the Bipartisan HBCU Caucus.
By creating a national dialogue around Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); educating Members of Congress and their staffs about the issues impacting them; drafting meaningful bipartisan legislation to address their needs; and increasing access and career opportunities, the HBCU Caucus works to promote and protect the interests of HBCUs and their students & graduates. The Caucus supports the HBCU Partnership Challenge, which pairs companies with HBCUs to provide financial support and recruit young talent.
Synchrony, which also employs over 600 employees in Charlotte, committed in September 2021 to give $1 million to UAPB, and this donation rounds out their commitment. It will primarily support scholarships for students focusing on programs related to business, finance, and leadership.
“We’re immensely thankful to the Synchrony Foundation for making this $500,000 investment in our young people,” said Rep. Adams. “When students have a chance to grow, learn new skills, and develop their minds, they thrive as adults, and we all benefit from their contributions. I am sure Synchrony will see these benefits directly.”
“I applaud Synchrony for their recent announcement of an additional $500,000 to the University of Arkansas – Pine Bluff,” said Rep. Hill. “While not in my district, UAPB produces many high-quality graduates who make a positive contribution to Pine Bluff, Little Rock, and Arkansas as a whole. Synchrony’s investment in UAPB fulfills their promise from 2021 and represents a continued commitment to our country’s HBCUs and to providing opportunities for first-generation college-bound students. I look forward to continuing to work with Synchrony to support the next generation of black leaders in central Arkansas.”
“Our continued support of UAPB is an intentional investment in higher education, equity, and opportunity," said Curtis Howse, EVP & CEO, Home & Auto, Synchrony. "Synchrony understands the transformative power of HBCUs, and their unparalleled ability to transcend boundaries and break barriers. Our commitment remains deep, supporting scholarship programs, and engaging students directly through mentorship and professional development. We continue to prioritize inclusivity within our company and the communities we serve, standing firm alongside HBCUs and storied institutions like UAPB."
Reps. Adams and Hill have worked tirelessly to secure equity in public funding for HBCUs. They have also advocated for private and nonprofit grants for these schools as they historically have received far less support and attention than older land-grant schools, many of which forbade Black students from attending.
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Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. represents North Carolina's 12th Congressional District (Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, Cabarrus County) and serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Education & the Workforce, where she serves as ranking member of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee.