Wells Fargo Invests $500,000 with Thurgood Marshall College Fund Paving the Way for the Next Global Leaders

A Blueprint for Success is Deliverance of Quality and Affordable Education

NEW YORK, Feb. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) announced it has received a $500,000 contribution from Wells Fargo as part of a long-term partnership to support higher education and talent development for TMCF-member schools.  From this alliance, 30 deserving students will receive full-tuition scholarships for the 2011 school year.

"With nearly 300,000 gifted TMCF Scholars matriculating on our 47 member-school campuses, identifying the 30 most promising will be no easy task," said Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., president and CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.  "The Wells Fargo Scholars will represent the finest students from our member schools, and this generous commitment will ensure they receive stellar leadership training and financial assistance as we continue to pave their way to becoming our next  Global Leaders."

"Wells Fargo believes everyone deserves access to high-quality and affordable education.  It's one of the most important ways we can help our communities become economically self-sufficient," said Gigi Dixon, senior vice president, director of national partnerships for Wells Fargo.  "Wells Fargo and TMCF share a commitment to education and together will enable more low-income and underrepresented students to attend and graduate college."

Wells Fargo has supported TMCF since 2005, providing over a half million dollars in scholarships for low-income HBCU (Historically Black College and University) students.  TMCF member schools collectively educate 80 percent of all students attending HBCUs.  Through this partnership, Wells Fargo is also serving as a co-sponsor for three TMCF programs:

Leadership Institute & Recruitment Conference – 600 exemplary member school students will participate in workshops and plenary sessions to equip them for entering the work force, learn life management skills, and interact with Wells Fargo executives.

Member Universities Professional Institute (MUPI) – MUPI joins member school administrators, faculty and staff to share best practices and strategize on capacity building techniques that maintain and enhance the future of public HBCUs.

Teacher Quality and Retention (TQRP) Institute: Wells Fargo is supporting the TQRP Black Male Initiative which trains, supports and mentors qualified black male teachers to increase their population in high-need urban and rural schools.  

ABOUT THURGOOD MARSHALL COLLEGE FUND

The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), named for the U.S. Supreme Court's first African-American Justice, was established in 1987 and represents the nation's 47 public Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), law schools and medical schools and the nearly 300,000 students matriculating on their campuses. With TMCF member schools educating approximately 80% of all students attending HBCUs, the organization's work is critical to guaranteeing our country a robust and diverse pipeline of talented workers and future leaders. TMCF achieves its vision of Changing the World . . . One Leader at a Time by focusing on three areas: Scholarships, Capacity Building & Programmatic Support, and Public Policy & Advocacy.

ABOUT WELLS FARGO

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a nationwide, diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.3 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 9,000 stores, 12,000 ATMs, the Internet (wellsfargo.com and wachovia.com), and other distribution channels across North America and internationally. We want to help all of our customers succeed financially and create long-term economic growth and quality of life for everyone in our communities. In 2010, the Company invested a record $219 million in grants in 19,000 nonprofits, and team members contributed more than 1.4 million volunteer hours around the country.  For more information, please visit: www.wellsfargo.com/about/csr.

SOURCE Thurgood Marshall College Fund