OUR HISTORY
Black Friday College Fund was conceived in response to a 2015 Black Lives Matter call to invest in the community rather than in systems of oppression on Black Friday. Co-founder Christine Di Pasquale had been doing suicide prevention work ever since her son Gabriel Gifford Scheller died by suicide on March 28, 2008, but was sensing that it was time for her to move away from work related to his death and toward work that celebrated his life.
Gabe was a compassionate person who cared deeply about social justice. As it happened, his 2015 birthday coincided with Black Friday and Christine began dreaming of a scholarship fund that would also address the kinds of challenges that kept him from reaching his potential.
With support from her family, Christine reached out to a few of Gabe’s friends and Black Friday College Fund was informally launched on Black Friday 2016 to honor Gabe's memory and spirit. It was recognized by the IRS as a 501c3 non-profit organization in March 2017, and the first scholarships were awarded that summer, thanks to the generosity of many friends and supporters.
Our mission and vision remain unchanged. Learn more about them below.
Our Mission
The Black Friday College Fund is dedicated to improving access to colleges and universities for students of color from economically challenged backgrounds by providing financial assistance for tuition. Additionally, the Black Friday College Fund is committed to promoting the wellness of scholars by providing financial assistance for wrap-around support services.
OUR GOALS
To increase access to higher education for students of color.
To provide continued assistance to students of color once they enter tertiary education by providing funds to use on support services
To raise awareness of the emotional and psychological strain caused to students of color coming from economically distressed families and neighborhoods
To raise awareness of the importance of wrap-around support services for students of color in college/universities, including mental health services.
To reduce the stigma of accessing mental health services in communities of color.