NORFOLK, Va., March 2, 2023 – The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) has announced the formation of the MEAC Foundation, launched following charitable donations made to the conference during the Invesco QQQ Legacy Classic last month from actor Michael B. Jordan, Snickers and the Legacy Classic.
The MEAC Foundation, a 501(c)(3), is a non-profit that was established to assist with the continued success of the “Elite Eight” member institutions as the preeminent Conference of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). It is the channel where fans, alumni, supporters and corporate America can partner with the conference and its member institutions for the advancement and sustainability of its athletic programs through long-range capacity investments.
“This is an exciting and proud day for the MEAC,” Commissioner Sonja Stills said. “To officially launch the MEAC Foundation and lay the groundwork for support for our league and our member institutions is the result of a lot of hard work and the first step in helping our schools access the support and the resources they need to continue growing and thriving.”
Through financial support provided to the MEAC Foundation the conference can ensure that its member institutions, student-athletes and coaches have the resources necessary to compete at a Division I level and provide an exceptional student-athlete experience. A Board of Directors consisting of conference leadership and Presidents and Chancellors of the eight MEAC schools will provide strategic oversight of the foundation.
The MEAC Foundation will allow member institutions to apply for grants for the following:
- Scholarships
- Championship Access
- Equipment
- Facility Improvements
- Sports Operations
- Salaries
- Broadcasting Capabilities
- Other Capital Improvements
The MEAC Foundation serves to support the MEAC and its member institutions’ athletic programs to ensure the sustainability and stability of the Conference. In addition, the MEAC Nation Association will serve as a network of ambassadors for the MEAC Foundation by focusing its resources and strategies on the four anchors of the organization: engagement, development initiatives, content creation and alumni relations.
For more information on the MEAC Foundation,
click here or contact Clint Johnson, the MEAC’s Director of Major Gifts, at
johnsonc@themeac.com, or Cesley Tafoya, the MEAC’s Assistant Commissioner for External Affairs, at
tafoyac@thmeac.com.
About the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) is in its 52
nd year of intercollegiate competition with the 2022-23 academic school year. Located in Norfolk, Va., the MEAC is made up of eight outstanding historically black institutions across the Atlantic coastline: Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina Central University and South Carolina State University.