SAN FRANCISCO (MAY 17, 2021) – Bold.org, the scholarship platform committed to fighting student debt through philanthropy, continues its Year of Giving Campaign with a new $10,000 scholarship. For May, Bold.org partners with the Social Change Fund United, founded by NBA stars Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, and Dwyane Wade. The $10,000 Social Change Fund United Scholarship will be awarded to two Black students who are currently studying or plan to study mental health care or a related field. Each student will be awarded $5,000.
Social Change Fund United was created in 2020 by philanthropists, entrepreneurs, and NBA superstars Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, and Dwyane Wade to support critical issues impacting the Black community. Through its partnerships and investments, the organization advocates for indigenous people and communities of color through the lens of policy solutions, community representation, and narrative change. The $10,000 Social Change Fund United Scholarship continues its efforts by supporting Black students pursuing a career in mental health.
Today, only one in three Black Americans receive the mental health care that they need, despite a large number of Black Americans reporting persistent symptoms of emotional distress. As a result, Black professionals in mental healthcare are highly underrepresented. Per the American Psychology Association, 86% of therapists in the U.S. workforce were white, 5% Asian, 5% Hispanic and only 4% were Black. The Social Change Fund United Scholarship is yet another step toward healing generational trauma and overcoming barriers that prevent the Black community from receiving mental health care and pursuing an education.
NBA Star, Chris Paul, says: “On behalf of my brothers, Dwyane and Carmelo, we are excited to partner with bold.org to offer two scholarships for Black students aspiring to be mental health professionals in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month. We need more professionals in this space that look like us in order to continue to break the stigmas around mental health in the Black community. Through the work the Social Change Fund United does, we are committed to contributing to changing the narrative.”
Bold.org CEO and Founder, Dror Liebenthal, says: "In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, Bold.org is so proud to partner with Social Change Fund United to support Black students who will grow into future mental health professionals. We’re honored to work with Carmelo, Chris, and Dwyane to advocate for the importance of mental health care in Black communities.”
The Year of Giving Campaign kicked off in January 2021, an initiative to create $10,000 scholarships each month alongside impact-focused public figures and brands. Previous campaign partners include EDM producer and DJ 3LAU, NFL Wide Receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace, Grammy-winning band Imagine Dragons, and professional MMA fighter Cat Zingano. At the end of the year, the campaign will launch Bold.org’s largest scholarship yet for $100,000. To join Bold.org in fighting America’s student debt crisis, donors can create their own custom scholarship by creating a profile at www.bold.org.
SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION