UTAH, June 14, 2021 (Gephardt Daily) — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the national leadership of the NAACP on Monday announced new educational and humanitarian initiatives.
“Today, we are pleased to announce three key initiatives that have emerged from our many discussions and prayerful planning,” said President Russell M. Nelson after a Temple Square meeting with the leaders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
“Leaders of the Church have found common ground with the NAACP as we have discussed challenges that beset some of God’s children,” Nelson said.
“The challenges are huge, and our capacities are limited. But together, we want to make a difference, even though our efforts may seem relatively small.”
Nelson announced:
- The Church’s commitment to fund a $1 million scholarship donation per year for three years, overseen by the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), which will help young black students in the United States.
- The Church’s plans to provide $250,000 for an Amos C. Brown Student Fellowship to Ghana and explained that the experience “will allow selected students from the USA an opportunity to learn more about their heritage.”
- The Church’s pledge of a $2 million contribution per year for the next three years to encourage service and help to those in need in those areas, Nelson said.
“This is consistent with our many humanitarian efforts around the world for which our members have donated so generously,” Nelson said.
Nelson said the efforts represent “an ongoing desire of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to teach and live the two great commandments — to love God and neighbor.”
Nelson said that together, the LDS Church and the NAACP will “bring relief to suffering souls in underprivileged areas of the United States,” and “teach important principles of self-reliance.”
NAACP leaders in attendance included Derrick Johnson, President and CEO; Wilbur Colom, Special Counsel; Eris Sims, Chief of Staff; Yumeka Rushing, Chief Strategy Officer, and the Rev. Dr. Amos C. Brown, Senior Pastor of the Third Baptist Church of San Francisco and President of NAACP Branch in San Francisco.
UNCF representatives at the event included Michael L. Lomax, President and CEO, Maurice E. Jenkins Jr., Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer, and Monica Sudduth, Regional Development Director of San Francisco.
Nelson thanked NAACP and UNCF leaders for being a part of the shared vision, the statement says.
“On this week of Juneteenth — a time designated to remember the end of slavery in the United States — we are honored to join with our dear friends from the NAACP and the UNCF to announce these goals and our shared vision,” Nelson said.
