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The Tom Joyner Foundation, a major driving force in raising money for historically black colleges and universities since 1998, has kicked off an aggressive fundraising campaign for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

During a Wednesday mid-morning kickoff event on the UMES campus, individual gifts were made of more than $10,000 from vice presidents, deans, faculty, staff, students and alumni within the crowd that gathered for the announcement. The total was added to the $42,500 already raised.

“We are grateful that the Tom Joyner Foundation chose the University of Maryland Eastern Shore as the School of the Month for August 2009,” said Thelma B. Thompson, UMES president. “There has never been a greater need or a better time to raise scholarship dollars than now.”

According to the foundation, formed by nationally syndicated radio personality Tom Joyner, UMES was chosen as part of its on-going effort to assist HBCUs in broadening and strengthening efforts to raise money to help keep students attending these institutions.

As a Tom Joyner Foundation School of the Month, UMES will receive funds raised from listeners, alumni and other interested parties during the month of August. The Tom Joyner Morning Show, which airs in 115 markets around the country and reaches nearly eight million listeners every week, will promote the university and award scholarships to deserving students.

UMES, twice named in the top tier of America’s Best Black Colleges by U.S. News and World Report, emphasizes select baccalaureate programs in the liberal arts and sciences and career fields with particular relevance to the Eastern Shore and its land-grant mandate, offering programs at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels. Established as Princess Anne Academy in 1886 with one professor and nine students, the school is home to 4,000 students today.

“The foundation is really happy to work with UMES,” said Tom Joyner, a graduate of Tuskegee Institute and chairman of the foundation. “The university has a wonderful history, and this foundation is all about making sure students are able to stay in school.”