UNCF HOSTS 27th ANNUAL WALK FOR EDUCATION IN Chicago, IL

Online, September 7, 2010 (Newswire.com) - UNCF HOSTS 27th ANNUAL WALK FOR EDUCATION IN Chicago, IL
Walk Aims to Raise $300,000 to Send Kids to College

The Chicago office of UNCF-the United Negro College Fund-the nation's largest and most effective minority education organization, announced today that it is hosting its 27th Annual Walk for Education on September 18, 2010 in Chicago at Burnham Park, Grove 2 located on South Lake Shore Drive at 31st Street. Members of the community and friends of UNCF are invited to form a team, join a team or register as an individual to help children get the education they need and our nation needs them to have. Visit http://give.uncf.org/ChicagoWalk for more information and to pre-register.

"Every step we take brings us that much closer to sending more kids to college and fulfilling President Barack Obama's commitment for America to regain world leadership in the number of college graduates by 2020," said Michael L. Lomax, Ph.D., UNCF president and CEO. "UNCF's Walk for Education is an opportunity for the community to rally together to help children get the college education our nation needs them to have in order to compete in a global economy."

On-site registration begins at 7:00 a.m. and the Walk begins at 9:00 a.m. The registration entry fee required before the day of the event is $25 for adults 13 and older and $10 for children 12 and under. Sponsorship packages are available now for corporations and organizations. Sponsors for this year's walk include; The Chicago Defender, Pepsico, Clear Channel Radio Chicago, Dominick's, NBC5, Luster Products Inc., BMOA, Navistar, American Airlines, and Chevrolet. Additionally, volunteers are needed to help with set-up, operations including maintaining Walk stations and clean-up.

"We want the Chicago Community to Walk For Education and help build a more diverse workforce and strengthen the community," said Jann Honore, UNCF Area Development Director. "Everyone who believes that 'A Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Waste'® should come out, and inspire and empower our young people to secure their passports to opportunity, college degrees."

For 66 years, UNCF has provided financial assistance to students and its 39 member historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Without UNCF's support, many of the students attending these colleges would not have access to higher education or the benefits it provides. UNCF's Walk for Education supports more than 60,000 students a year at more than 900 colleges and universities across America.

For more information on Walk For Education or for sponsorship packages, please contact UNCF office at 312-845-2200, email UNCFChicagoWalkathon@uncf.org or visit www.uncf.org.