The McBride Sisters SHE CAN Fund Announces 2022 Program Focus and HBCU Initiative and Scholarship Program

OAKLAND, Calif., March 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The McBride Sisters SHE CAN Fund today announces its support of women in the food and wine industries as the prime focus of its Professional Development Fund in 2022. Today, the SHE CAN Fund also reveals the results of its Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Initiative and Academic Scholarship Program in partnership with Southern University, which awarded $50,000 to Southern University's Agricultural Research and Extension Center and College of Agricultural Family and Consumer Sciences (SU Ag).

First activated in 2019, The McBride Sisters SHE CAN Fund has invested more than $3 million to date in the professional advancement and career growth of high-potential, professional women, with a particular focus on women of color. Via monetary grants, advertising credits, scholarship funding and mentorship programs, the SHE CAN Fund has received support from corporate partners such as Facebook (Meta), Silicon Valley Bank, Morgan Stanley and Brand Now, plus organizations including the Wine Institute, as well as the support of individual seed impact investors.

The decision to focus this year's investment on professional women in the food and wine industry is based on category statistics, which shine a spotlight on the lack of women in leadership positions within America's hospitality industry.  In a National Restaurant Association study, while women account for more than half of all restaurant workers and 71% of servers, only 19% of chef positions are held by women. African American women are paid the least amount of all subset of restaurant workers. With this year's focus, the SHE CAN Fund will award WSET (Wine & Spirits Education Trust) courses and certification or Sommelier certification courses and exam scholarships to high-potential women in the wine & spirits and culinary fields, to enhance their skill sets and to aid in the advancement of their professions.

Understanding that an essential driver of true change is determined by the success of the next generation of leaders, the SHE CAN Fund expanded its reach and impact by launching its first-ever HBCU Initiative and Academic Scholarship Program in partnership with SU Ag. Launched to create a pipeline of HBCU students to lead the wine industry's future of diverse winemakers, grape growers, and industry professionals, the $50,000 awarded to the program in 2021 was dedicated specifically to the school's top female undergraduate prospects' career growth through professional development and research studies. From the Fall 2021 semester to January 2022, SU Ag Center has grown its student population who enrolled in viticulture and oenology courses from 8 to 133 students. This promotion of young talent is boosted by more than $100,000 in funds raised with the support of the Wine Institute, whose mission is to promote American winemaking in all its forms, as well as to advance diversity in the industry now and for generations to come. These first actions by the SHE CAN Fund with SU Ag are but the first in what the McBride Sisters and their partners envision as a robust, multi year investment in young Black talent at HBCUs.

"Wine culture and culinary culture are deeply entwined, not just because the final products enhance each other so magically, but also because of the people who pour their hearts into creating an experience," says Robin McBride, Co-Founder and President of the McBride Sisters Wine Company and Chair of the McBride Sisters SHE CAN Fund. "This year's professional development focus is our Sisters in food and wine who chose to pursue their passion through a culinary career."

This year's focus is just one example of how the SHE CAN Fund is investing in the current and next generation of women leaders.

"What we've accomplished to date has changed the future of wine and we're committed to another fund year of positive change and indelible advancement for women across the industry and beyond," says Agnes Uboma, Chief Impact Officer of the McBride Sisters SHE CAN Fund. "It's imperative to note that the McBride Sisters SHE CAN Fund is not a charity but a call to action, and a direct reflection of women growing women. SHE CAN's seed impact investors, program partners, and champions include ranking women representing impressive organizations," Ms. Uboma continues.

Professional development scholarships are open to all women currently employed or self-employed in food and wine. Recent graduates from an accredited culinary school are encouraged to apply.

Applications open on May 1, 2022 at mcbridesistersfund.org.

About the McBride Sisters Wine Company:
Established in 2005 by founders Robin McBride and Andréa McBride John, McBride Sisters Wine Company is the largest Black-owned wine company in the United States. Its mission is to transform the wine industry, to lead by example and to cultivate community, one delicious glass of wine at a time. These values show up not only in the wines, but in all facets of the company. The signature McBride Sisters Collection wines are direct reflections of the terroirs of Robin and Andréa's youth, with flavors designed for all palates. The fun, fab and eco-friendly SHE CAN collection is inspired by the endless pursuit of all women who are making their dreams a reality and are breaking barriers daily. The Black Girl Magic collection is inspired by the magic and resilience of Black women, to be enjoyed by all. For more information, please visit mcbridesisters.com or follow along on Instagram at @mcbridesisters, @blackgirlmagicwines and @shecanwines.

About the McBride Sisters SHE CAN Fund:
At its inception, The McBride Sisters SHE CAN Fund was created by the McBride Sisters Wine Company founders Robin McBride and Andréa McBride John to promote the professional advancement of women in the wine industry in a concerted effort to help close the gender and race gap. In its first year, the fund awarded scholarships of nearly $40,000 to empower women to strive for change and to create opportunities for themselves and others, where there had not been before. Today, the Fund is rapidly growing, and runs three programs:

• #YESSHECAN is dedicated to the professional advancement of women in male-dominated fields. Each year, the Fund shifts its focus to support different communities of professional women via monetary business grants, scholarships for professional training and certifications, and mentorship opportunities to aid in career advancement.

• A subset of #YESSHECAN, the Fund's #SHECANTHRIVE program provides programming, resources, and grants for Black women-owned businesses and entrepreneurs. The SHE CAN Fund launched the program in 2020 with rapid relief grants and support services in response to the international COVID-19 pandemic, during which Black-owned businesses were disproportionately hit the hardest. Since the launch, 77 Black women entrepreneurs have received grants and services totaling more than $2.5 million from impact investors.

• Launched in 2021, #SHECANGreaux is The McBride Sisters SHE CAN Fund's first-ever initiative and academic scholarship program directed towards Historically Black College and Universities (HBCUs), created in partnership with Southern University's College of Agricultural Family and Consumer Sciences (SU Ag). A play on words inspired by the uniquely French heritage of Black Creole history in Louisiana, as well as SU Ag's rally "Geaux Jags," #SHECANGreaux was created with the goal of generating a pipeline of HBCU students to lead the wine industry's future of diverse professionals.

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SOURCE McBride Sisters Collection