Robert Kraft Donates $1 Million to Promote Black and Jewish Unity

In April 2024, United Negro College Fund (UNCF) received a $1 million donation from Robert Kraft (founder, chairman and CEO of the Kraft Group). The gift, which was announced during UNCF’s Annual Board of Directors meeting, will be used to support educational initiatives at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) that promote unity and partnerships between Black and Jewish organizations.

“I am honored to support UNCF in their mission to combat hate and promote unity,” said Kraft. “It is crucial that we come together as a society to address the root causes of hate and prejudice. By investing in education and awareness programs, we can empower individuals to stand up against hate and create a more inclusive future for all.”

Since its founding in April 1944, UNCF has raised over $6 billion to help over 500,000 students affordably attend college and continues to preserve the legacy and impact of HBCU education. In addition, the organization is dedicated to addressing hate and hopes to inspire positive change in all communities. Ahead, we share some of the past work by Black and Jewish leaders working together to support their communities. We also note Robert F. Smith’s lifelong support of UNCF and Jewish organizations.

Continuing the Legacy of Black and Jewish Unity

Throughout history, Black and Jewish leaders have worked together to uplift their communities and combat prejudice. During the Civil Rights Movement, for example, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. marched hand in hand during the Selma to Montgomery marches in 1965. 

Earlier in the 20th century, the Tuskegee Institute created what are now known as Rosenwald schools. Spearheaded by Booker T. Washington, this initiative involved building schoolhouses that would help Black students in the rural South receive early education.

Julius Rosenwald, a leader in the Jewish community and president of Sears, Roebuck and Company, created a fund to support the creation of over 5,000 of these schools. Today, you can see a restored Rosenwald school, Siloam School, at the Charlotte Museum of History in North Carolina.

The restoration of the Siloam School highlights the importance of preserving Black history and honors the legacy of Black and Jewish leaders coming together to uplift their communities. Kraft’s donation to UNCF will help create unity at HBCUs and support UNCF’s work to help Black students attend college.

Smith’s Support of UNCF and Partnership With Jewish Organizations

Smith’s special connection to UNCF began when he was a child. During Smith’s childhood, his mother donated to the fund every month, no matter the family’s financial situation. Smith is now dedicated to helping students earn higher education degrees, which has become a pillar of Smith’s philanthropic efforts. In 2016, he partnered with his brother, Allan, to create the UNCF Sylvia M. Young Smith Scholarship Program in honor of their mother. This program awards merit-based scholarships to students attending HBCUs.

The same year, Fund II Foundation donated $48 million to create the Fund II Foundation UNCF STEM Scholars Program. This program addresses existing diversity gaps in STEM fields and creates a pipeline to prepare Black students for careers in tech. In recognition of his philanthropy, Smith was awarded UNCF’s President’s Award in 2019.

In addition, Smith participated in the World Values Network’s 8th and 9th Annual Champions of Jewish Values International Awards Galas. In his 2021 speech, Smith emphasized the importance of allyship between Black and Jewish communities.