North High seniors got quite a surprise on Friday, April 15 as Pillsbury United Communities (Pillsbury United) announced the launch of $1M in scholarship funds. Every graduating North High senior this yr will receive as much as $10,000 for his or her post-secondary education.
Leaders at Pillsbury United said the North High Scholarship Fund was arrange in early 2022 to counteract the intense challenges this yr’s graduating class has faced, from the pandemic and the murder of George Floyd to the Minneapolis Public Schools’ educator strike, and disproportionate experiences of community-based violence—most recently the murder of their beloved classmate Deshaun Hill, Jr.
“It is a moment for sowing hope into those that have been profoundly affected by the events and losses of the past few years and ongoing entrenched inequities,” said Pillsbury United CEO and President, Adair Mosley. “We imagine direct investments in young individuals are powerful. This fund will meaningfully support students in actualizing the futures of their wildest dreams. We’re following transformative models across the country and aim to have a generational impact on prosperity.”
Roughly 100 students are on course to graduate in spring 2022. Upon successful graduation, each senior will earn as much as $10,000 for post-secondary profession training or college. Pillsbury United will hold the funds and remit them on to the academic institutions of scholars selecting.
Students who don’t have an instantaneous plan could have up to 1 yr to find out their post-secondary educational goals. Pillsbury United said it should make its college and profession counselors available during summer hours to support the scholars through this process.
The North High Scholarship Fund is made possible through contributions from The Margaret A. Cargill Foundation Fund on the St. Paul & Minnesota Foundation; Cargill Foundation; General Mills; McKnight Foundation; Minneapolis Foundation; Minnesota Twins; Goal; and the U.S. Bank Foundation.
Pillsbury United is an agency with a 140-year legacy of recognizing and amplifying the assets and aspirations of the communities living in historically underinvested neighborhoods across Minneapolis. The organization welcomes additional contributions to the fund and plans to explore tips on how to proceed and expand it within the years to come back. Visit this link to donate.