New Orleans LA – Xavier University of Louisiana has been awarded a $250,000 grant from The Coca-Cola Foundation in support of programs aimed at Black male recruitment and retention.

The goal of the project, “The Obligation of Excellence: Black Male Recruitment and Retention at Xavier University of Louisiana,” is to help in the University’s ongoing efforts to improve Black male recruitment, enrollment and retention rates and to provide supplemental scholarship funding that will lessen the financial burden for Black male students enrolled at Xavier.

“We know education opens the door to opportunities,” said Helen Smith Price, President, The Coca-Cola Foundation. “The Coca-Cola system believes that it is critical to support the next generation of leaders and is proud to support educational opportunities at Xavier University through scholarship support.”

Specifically the grant will fund three areas: the University’s XScape Fund, general scholarships, and a new special campus event, the Magnificent Male Weekend.

The scholarship funds will help Xavier provide competitive financial aid packages to prospective students in order to recruit and retain high performing students and decrease the financial burdens of tuition and expenses. The XScape fund is designed to provide emergency financial assistance to students who experience unforeseen or unusual circumstances.

“As the local Coca-Cola bottler in Louisiana, we know the value of Xavier and its students in New Orleans, and we are proud that our company can be a part of something that impacts lives for years to come,” said Susanne Hall, West Region Vice President, Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED.

Find out more:

Xavier President Reynold Verret at the University Center. Photographed on Oct. 8, 2018. (Photo by Frankie Prijatel, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune) (Frankie Prijatel NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)

NOLA.com

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About The Coca-Cola Foundation

The Coca-Cola Foundation is the global philanthropic arm of The Coca-Cola Company. Through more than 30 years of giving back, The Coca-Cola Foundation has granted more than $1 billion to help protect the environment, promote recycling, empower women and enhance the overall well-being of communities. For more information about The Coca-Cola Foundation, please visit www.coca-colagivingback.com.

About Xavier University of Louisiana

Xavier was recently ranked as the nation’s #2 HBCU (Historically Black College and University) by College Consensus, a unique college ratings website that aggregates publisher rankings and student reviews, in its newly released publication, Best HBCUs for 2018. Xavier was also among the four colleges selected by Beyonce and her BeyGood Foundation as the recipient of a Homecoming Scholars Scholarship Award announced after her much lauded performance at Coachella, while actor and comedian Kevin Hart has joined forces with UNCF and KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) to help 18 more KIPP students earn a college degree – three of whom were Xavier students.

At Xavier eXcellence awaits yoU. For more information about Xavier University of Louisiana visit us online at www.xula.edu or follow us on Facebook, YouTube, or Twitter @XULA1925. To book interviews about our recent accomplishments and/or to speak with our experts in the field of pharmacy, education, premed, public health, science, technology, math, business, English, communications and the arts, contact Diana Hernandez at (504) 520-5120 or dhernan1@xula.edu.

About Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, Inc.

Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, Inc., founded in 1902 and headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, is the second largest privately held Coca-Cola bottler in North America and the fourth largest bottler of Coca-Cola products in the U.S., with some 10,000 associates across the southeast. Crescent City Coca-Cola in New Orleans is one of the company’s 60 facilities, and its operations include production, sales and distribution of Coca-Cola products. www.cocacolaunited.com.