John W. Rogers, a trustee of the University of Chicago and founder and CEO of Ariel Capital Management, has donated $10.5 million to the university.
Of the new gift, $4 million will support the John W. Rogers and Victoria Marie Rogers Scholarship Fund, a part of the University’s endowment that is used to provide scholarship support at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, which Rogers has been involved with for more than 40 years.
Another $4.5 million of the gift will establish and endow the Ariel Investments Internship Program in Finance, an extensive series of new programming that will encourage students from low-income families and racial and ethnic minorities to pursue career paths in the finance industry. Specifically, the gift will expand opportunities for students from underrepresented groups to obtain paid internships at endowment, foundation and non-profit investment offices.
“The University of Chicago has a deep commitment to diversity and equality of opportunity,” said Meredith Daw, executive director of Career Advancement. “Because of John Rogers’ gift, more students than ever will be able to go after their dreams and find meaningful careers, regardless of their background.”
While I am happy that black people achieve to the point that they can make sizable donations to educational institutions, I also become very disheartened that they make these donations to majority schools, while HBCUs struggle every day to survive. A $2 million donation to a school like SCSU would do immeasurable good to help educate those who have suffered a lifetime of educational discrimination, yet somehow, manage to endure. progress and ultimately achieve.
Guess I should have asked him for $$$
Having a growth mindset is essentially useful when considering the diversity of black/African American experiences; let us all be mindful that black people should have the choice to make donations in any way s/he sees fit….without ridicule and or judgement.