Jackson State University News February 4, 2021 JSU receives $250,000 from Diageo North America for permanent endowment fund Initiative to include the creation of an internship platform to help drive diversity across the industry. Jackson State University has received $250,000 from Diageo North America to create a permanent endowment fund and provide financial aid grants to talented JSU scholars across various disciplines and majors. A portion of the proceeds will be used to address JSU's more immediate student needs for the 2021-2022 academic year. "We appreciate the consideration and generosity of Diageo North America," said Thomas K. Hudson, president of Jackson State University. "It's always a positive when we are able to assist our students in their academic pursuits while improving the world around us." The endowment fund is part of a broader innovative program that Diageo North America announced to support 25 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), focused on building opportunities to develop future leaders and help shape a more equitable society. The initiative is expected to benefit thousands of students over the years across the country. With the goal of helping to change the complexion of the industry, Diageo North America has also committed to taking a step to build a pipeline of talented leaders through an internship platform over the coming years and Jackson State University will be part of it. The company will provide opportunities for HBCU students to gain valuable work experience at a fast pace that could help them with their future career aspirations or jump-start their career in the consumer goods industry. "We are proud to partner with these esteemed institutions and to do our part to help shape a more equitable society by providing opportunities for future leaders," said Debra Crew, president, Diageo North America. "This initiative further deepens Diageo's commitment to making a long term and sustainable impact on underrepresented communities." This initiative was created by working closely with Diageo North America's African Heritage Business Resource Group (A.H.E.A.D.) to focus on the priorities and actions, along with the right partnerships, to make the most meaningful impact in the Black community. To learn more about Diageo's work to support the communities where it operates, including company values, visit www.diageo.com<https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2983827-1&h=1260817332&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diageo.com%2F&a=www.diageo.com>. About Diageo North America Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan's whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Casamigos and Don Julio tequilas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Tanqueray and Guinness. Diageo is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE: DGE) and their products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information about Diageo, their people, brands, and performance, visit www.diageo.com<http://www.diageo.com/>. Visit Diageo's global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com<http://www.drinkiq.com/>, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practices. Follow at Twitter and Instagram for news and information about Diageo North America: @Diageo_NA. Sandra M. Phoenix HBCU Library Alliance Executive Director Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library 111 James P. Brawley Drive SW Atlanta GA 30314 404-978-2118 (office) 404-702-5854 (cell) http://www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> Honor the ancestors, honor the children and those yet to come. Building Capacity for Humanities Special Collections at HBCUs - Become an ally and partner with us to protect, preserve and share a more authentic record of American history. Follow this link http://hbculibraries.org/humanities-2019.html for more information. Follow this link http://hbculibraries.org/ and click on the Donate Now button to invest in this project. Your support is appreciated. Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/hbculibraryalliance1/ and Twitter at https://twitter.com/HBCULibAlliance Check out "PULSE!" The HBCU Library Alliance's News Source! - https://hbculibraryalliance.wordpress.com/