William Randolph Hearst Foundations make $100,000 grant to Flagler College

ST. AUGUSTINE, FL (08/21/2012)(readMedia)-- Flagler College President Dr. William T. Abare, Jr., announced that the College had received a grant of $100,000 from the William Randolph Hearst Foundations of New York. The grant was approved by the Foundation's board of trustees in June to establish the William Randolph Hearst Endowed Scholarship Fund to support African American students enrolled at Flagler College. Flagler College matched the grant with $100,000, creating an endowment of $200,000.

"Flagler College is immensely pleased and proud to receive this grant from the William Randolph Hearst Foundations," said Abare. Funding from such a prestigious national foundation underscores Flagler College's growing reputation, the quality of its educational programs, the caliber of its students and the soundness of its operations. The grant will enable us to enroll, retain and graduate more African American students."

Enrollment of African-American students at Flagler has grown significantly in the past four years and with this growth has come the need for increased financial assistance. In 2011-2012, 86 percent of Flagler students received financial aid through federal, state and institutional programs.

"Given the financial pressures on students and their families, additional grant support can help make Flagler College an affordable choice, as well as a sound educational investment," said Abare. "The Hearst Scholarship Fund can provide this additional assistance for qualified students."

Flagler College has other scholarships that benefit African-American students, including the Watson-Bailey Endowed Scholarship, the Buckingham-Smith Benevolent Association Scholarship for African-American students in St. Augustine, the Junkanoo Scholarship for Abaconian students, the Robert B. Tinlin Memorial Endowed Scholarship and the Tomorrow Scholarship for Minority Students.

The Hearst Foundations fund exemplary institutions of higher education dedicated to preparing students to succeed in a global society. Preference is given to undergraduate education at medium size private, liberal arts colleges and universities. The Foundations' funding interests are focused on endowed scholarships, as well as compelling programmatic and capital initiatives that advance an institution's ability to provide quality education. Private nonprofits with significant support from the philanthropic community are favored over those financed through government sources.

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Flagler College is an independent, four-year, comprehensive baccalaureate college located in St. Augustine, Fla. The college offers 24 majors, 29 minors and two pre-professional programs, the largest majors being business, education and communication. Small by intent, Flagler College has an enrollment of about 2,500 students, as well as a satellite campus at Tallahassee Community College in Tallahassee, Fla. U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review regularly feature Flagler as a college that offers quality education at a relatively low cost; tuition is $23,690, including room and board. A relatively young institution (founded in 1968), Flagler College is also noted for the historic beauty of its campus. The main building is Ponce de Leon Hall, built in 1887 as a luxury resort by Henry Flagler, who co-founded the Standard Oil Company with John D. Rockefeller. For more on Flagler College, visit www.flagler.edu.

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