The Coca‑Cola Company & Historically Black Colleges and Universities

We are unwavering in our dedication to uplift the next generation of students by providing opportunities, resources and scholarships to impact Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). In the last five years, The Coca‑Cola Company and The Coca‑Cola Foundation have together contributed more than $17 million to HBCUs and national scholarship funds supporting HBCU students.

We are proud of our long-standing commitment to partner with HBCUs as we encourage and support educational opportunities for all students, including those who represent diverse backgrounds and ethnicities, and work to achieve a more equitable society.

• In September 2021, Coca‑Cola extended a 91-year partnership with Grambling State University for 10 more years and a 51-year partnership with the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) for five more years. In addition, the company extended a 10-year partnership with the Bayou Classic, the iconic annual football matchup between Grambling State and Southern University. 
  
  
• In August 2021, Coca‑Cola entered a five-year partnership with ESPN to present the MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kickoff in Atlanta and the postseason Celebration Bowl. Both games give a national television spotlight to two HBCU football teams, with the MEAC/SWAC Challenge serving as the kickoff of the HBCU season and the Celebration Bowl crowning its champion. 
  
  
• During the Sports Emmy Awards in July, it was announced that, in partnership with the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, The Coca‑Cola Company created and funded a new grant to be awarded to an HBCU student studying for a career in sports journalism. 
  
  
• To celebrate the 2021 National HBCU Week, the company’s Black Employee Network invited Dr. Felecia M. Nave, President of Alcorn State University, to serve as the special guest speaker for an employee Q&A event where she discussed the importance of HBCUs and their societal impact.
  
  
• In addition to the HBCU partnerships and related initiatives, executives from The Coca‑Cola Company have a long history of serving on the boards of directors at Morehouse College, Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University, and Morehouse School of Medicine.