National Urban League Announces $7 Million Commitment from AbbVie to Support Mentorship Program for Black and Historically Underserved Youth Investment Will Expand Program to Additional Cities

NEW YORK (December 9, 2020) – The National Urban League has received a $7 million donation from AbbVie, a research-based global biopharmaceutical company, to support underserved Black communities across the United States. AbbVie’s commitment will support the organization’s efforts to prepare Black and other historically underserved youth for college and careers, helping them achieve post-secondary success with increased progress in math, reading, and writing through the National Urban League’s Project Ready: Mentor mentorship program.

 “We are proud to partner with AbbVie in our ongoing effort to help Black and other historically underserved youth achieve post-secondary academic success through our signature Education & Youth Development program, Project Ready: Mentor,” said National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial. “AbbVie funding leverages public mentoring investments and allows us to continue to surround young people with a range of supports, services, and opportunities to help them develop into well rounded, productive, and responsible adults. Racial equity and change requires commitment and partners who understand that supporting mentor-mentee activities, having a clear emphasis on leadership and service, and a commitment to post-secondary success changes the trajectory of students and their entire families." 

This investment allows the National Urban League to expand its signature mentorship program to additional cities while increasing programming and mentor-mentee activities of existing program sites, reaching a total of 3,000 students over five years.

Project Ready: Mentor will make the following expansions:

1.     Chicago, IL (existing)

2.     Houston, TX (existing)

3.     Omaha, NE (existing)

4.     Newark, NJ (new)

5.     San Diego, CA (new)

6.     Milwaukee, WI (new)

7.     Detroit, MI (new)

AbbVie’s investment also includes providing critical support for students and mentors participating in 7 additional Project Ready: Mentor communities across the country. 

“Being ready for college and career requires support and mentoring, and National Urban League’s Project Ready steps up for Black and historically underserved youth,” said Karen Hale, Vice President, and Deputy General Counsel, AbbVie. “Project Ready’s mentors provide a stable caring adult paired with strong evidence-based programming, giving students in underserved communities a strong base to succeed academically, emotionally, and intellectually.” 

AbbVie’s $7 million commitment to National Urban League is part of the company’s broader $50 million, five-year investment program focusing on helping reduce healthcare disparities and creating educational and workforce development opportunities.