Photo Credit: Terence Faircloth / CC by 2.0
Lil Durk has announced the Durk Banks Endowment Fund with Howard University and Amazon Music. The fund was created together with Rotation and Neighborhood Heroes as a new initiative to provide two students from Chicago with $50,000 scholarships to attend Howard University.
The Durk Banks Endowment Fund is aimed at providing exceptional students from Chicago with scholarships to Washington D.C.’s world-renowned Historically Black College & University (HBCU) Howard University.
Developed together with Rotation, the hip-hop and R&B brand from Amazon Music and Neighborhood Heroes a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded by Lil Durk. The fund will provide two students with $50,000 scholarships toward their freshman year enrollment at Howard.
In addition, Neighborhood Heroes and Durk are also donating an additional $250,000 directly to support students from Chicago receiving Howard’s Graduation Retention Access to Continued Excellence (GRACE) Grant, which provides additional funding to students enrolled at the university with the greatest financial need.
“I feel it’s my responsibility to reach back to the kids—especially those that are growing up in my community,” says the rapper about the scholarship program. “These kids have to be our biggest investment as they’re our future leaders. They are destined for greatness and I’m encouraging others to join my team’s efforts to help pave their way.”
“We are incredibly grateful to be the recipients of such generous support from Lil Durk, the Neighborhood Heroes Foundation, and Amazon Music,” adds Cynthia Evers, Ph.D., Vice President for Student Affairs at Howard University. “Not only did they lend their support to the premier event run by and for Howard University students, but they also left a lasting impression by offering a gift that will continue to benefit Howard students for a long time to come. This meaningful partnership will benefit Howard students facing the biggest hurdles to financing their education and we truly appreciate this support for our Bison!”