Staffing

McDonald's amps up efforts for up-and-coming Black leaders

Photo: iStock

October 13, 2020

McDonald's USA is expanding its efforts to support students and alumni of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, often referred to as simply HBCUs, through the QSR's Black & Positively Golden movement, a news release said.

The Chicago-based company and its owner/operators have partnered with Essence Girls United, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and iHeart Media on a program to help young adults move toward franchise ownership.

Also this season, McDonald's said it would invest $500,000 into its Black & Positively Golden HBCU scholarship fund.

This includes awarding 34 $15,000 scholarships to students attending Thurgood Marshall College-funded schools.

"Knowing the uncertainty and challenges facing college students returning to classes during the pandemic, we understand HBCU students will be most impacted, as they continue dealing with not only the impacts of COVID-19, but also civil unrest and demands for Black equality," Harry L. Williams, Thurgood Marshall College Fund president and CEO, said in the release. "That's why TMCF is excited to partner with McDonald's to help keep more Black students in college and to help provide the tools needed to succeed."

Additionally, through November, McDonald's is partnering with iHeartMedia to host a month-long HBCU homecoming celebration via iHeartMedia's on-air, streaming, podcast and a live virtual event channels. The celebration will bring together HBCU students and alumni with their favorite musical artists, influencers and entertainment. More details will be announced in the coming weeks.

McDonald's collaborated with Essence Girls United for a multi-week program that kicked off with a virtual entrepreneurship bootcamp in September, featuring entrepreneur profiles and hosted by media personality, Khadeen Ellis. It also featured a surprise appearance by actress-singer, Ryan Destiny, along with an online masterclass with the founder of Black Girl Sunscreen, Shontay Lundy, as well as actress and content creator, Jasmine Luv, and McDonald's owner/operator Marissa Fisher.

McDonald's has also partnered with New Voices Fund, which invests in women of color-owned companies. to award multi-brand marketplace, MIVE, and Black hair care company, Lillian Augusta, $10,000 in seed capital to help fund each of their businesses.