Some lucky college seniors are feeling pretty #blessed after a local church paid off their student debt.
Throughout the month of January, Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley, pastor of Alfred Street Baptist Church, led his 8,000-member congregation in a church-wide physical, social media, and financial fast that resulted in donations totaling $150,000.
The Alexandria, Va.-based church decided to donate $100,000 to Howard University in Washington, D.C., and $50,000 to Bennett College in Greensboro, N.C. Both schools are historically black colleges and universities, close to the hearts of the congregants, three quarters of whom attended HBCUs. The church also hosts one of the largest free HBCU festivals in the country and donates an additional $25,000 to a designated HBCU every year.
Wesley worked with Howard University officials to identify 34 high-achieving students whose debt was the only thing keeping them from graduating. The students were called into the university’s financial office earlier this month, where they were surprised to find Alfred Street Baptist Church’s leadership and staff members. Wesley delivered the news to each of the students that their tuition balance would be covered by the church.
Howard University President Wayne A.I. Frederick hopes the gift’s impact will extend beyond the scholarship recipients. He said he believes the gift “will teach them about paying forward” and “about the responsibility to the community around them.”
“Their generosity is a reminder of how one person’s selfless act of kindness can be multiplied and have a profound impact on the lives of others,” Frederick said in a press release.
Wesley’s congregation did not find out where the money was being donated until a few days after the students were told, when they watched a video of the surprise.
“The entire congregation was just moved to tears,” said Wesley.
The church donated the remaining $50,000 toward Bennett College’s accreditation costs.
Alfred Street Baptist Church is challenging other churches to follow their lead in financially supporting the nation’s HBCUs.
Brendan Pringle (@BrendanPringle) is writer from California. He is a National Journalism Center graduate and formerly served as a development officer for Young America’s Foundation at the Reagan Ranch.
