Luther Vandross, who died in 2005, was one of the greatest singers of a generation. What many may not know is that Vandross was also passionate about giving back to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The Luther Vandross Foundation was created to provide financial help to students attending HBCUs and to continue the legendary singer’s commitment to helping students graduate. Rolling out spoke exclusively to the Luther Vandross Foundation’s president and CEO Brenda Shields, who is the first cousin of Vandross, about their second annual fundraiser and the inspiration to create the foundation.
“I was very close to his mother, and I was the executor of her estate and one of the things that she wanted to do was to carry on Luther’s mission, and that was to support HBCUs,” Shields says of the 501 (C) (3) nonprofit.
“Luther was an advocate, number one for education, and he was definitely an advocate for HBCUs. He made himself available for his concerts, he would raise money for HBCUs,” she says.
Shields pointed out that Vandross raised money for the United Negro College Fund on the television game show “Family Feud” back in 1989.
“In speaking to his mother, prior to her passing, she wanted to continue his legacy of supporting HBCUs,” she recalls. “That’s why we started the foundation to make sure that that continues.”
The foundation has awarded over half a million dollars in scholarship money over the last two years to 104 HBCU students.
“These are $5,000 scholarships that we award so we are making a difference to minimize the financial burdens because we know that we are hurting,” Shields says. “We know that in the third and fourth years, a lot of students have to drop out because the money has dried up and they can’t support, and they can’t finish. So, I think we’re doing a wonderful job.”
The Luther Vandross Foundation’s Second Annual Fundraiser supporting HBCU students will take place Saturday, May 4, 2024, at Rivers Casino in Philadelphia from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. EDT. The emcee for the event will be WDAS FM’s Patty Jackson, esteemed WDAS-FM and iHeart Radio personality Patty Jackson.
The Nat Adderley Jr. Quartet, led by former Vandross collaborator and musical director Nat Adderley Jr., will play Vandross covers as well as jazz standards. Singer Patricia Lacy-Aiken, formerly of Sounds of Blackness and a former background singer for Vandross. For more information about the organization, and the event, or to donate, visit LutherVandrossFoundation.org.
