Public Employee Press

February is Black History Month
Roberts sets fundraising record

DC 37 made labor history again in 2005 when Executive Director Lillian Roberts, as labor chair of the United Negro College Fund, set a record by exceeding the $100,000 fundraising goal for the 60-year old minority education charity.

Roberts appeared with host Janice Huff, WNBC-TV meteorologist, on UNCF’s “Tribute to the Stars” telethon, which aired Jan. 8. The 4-hour program honored musical genius Stevie Wonder.

With Roberts as the show was taped Dec. 12 were Veronica Montgomery Costa, president of DC 37 and Local 372, Maf Misbah Uddin, treasurer of DC 37 and president of Local 1407, and Cliff Koppelman, secretary of DC 37 and president of Local 1070.

The year 2005 posed new and difficult challenges for UNCF. The wind and flood damage of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita shuttered three historically black colleges in the South, Xavier and Dillard universities in Louisiana and Tougaloo College in Mississippi. Experts estimate that it will take more than $100 million to rebuild each institution.

To bolster fundraising efforts, Roberts reached out to local presidents, rank-and-file members, labor leaders and HIP, the health insurance plan for New York City employees. They responded by donating thousands of dollars to UNCF.

“UNCF is still tallying donations, but we know that for the first time ever New York City met its goal,” said Valerie Cole-Davis, UNCF’s area development director. To bring a greater presence to the Big Apple, UNCF has initiated the New York Scholars Program, which is designed to service a diverse population, she said.

“UNCF is not about race,” said DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts. “UNCF offers educational opportunities for higher learning, and no one should be excluded from that experience.”

To acquaint DC 37 members and their teens with opportunities for college, the DC 37 Black History Committee’s annual Family Day event, starting at 9 a.m. Feb. 4, will include a special presentation on historically black colleges as part of the kick-off to the union’s continuing collaboration with UNCF.

—DSW