February 9, 2021 – Millikin University’s Black Student Union, the University’s oldest minority organization, received a $1,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Macon County’s Racial Equity Fund on February 5. The Community Foundation of Macon County launched the Racial Equity Fund to provide grant funding to local nonprofit organizations directly addressing the challenge of racism and inequity in the local community.
The grant from the Community Foundation of Macon County was given to support the Black Student Union’s student and community engagement, including their work with Millikin’s Black History Month Celebration.
The grant was presented by Natalie Beck, president of the Community Foundation of Macon County, as well as Tony Holly, director of strategic grantmaking and a 2009 Millikin graduate.
“It is a privilege to support the inspirational and groundbreaking work that the Black Student Union is doing at Millikin,” Holly said. “As Millikin becomes a more and more diverse campus, it’s gratifying to see a Black-led student organization taking the lead on racial equity issues on campus.
Holly’s mother and sister both attended Millikin University back in the late 50s. “Fast forward to today, where not only is a prominent black alumni’s work being featured in the gallery in Kirkland, but on top of that, the Black Student Union membership of the same institution brought this plan to fruition to benefit the entire community,” Holly said. “It’s a wonderful legacy and we are excited to see the other ways that the BSU continues to be impactful, and we are honored to help.”
The Community Foundation of Macon County also purchased 25 of Paul Branton’s calendars in support of the Pauline Phillips Scholarship Fund.
