L to R: Darryl R. Matthews, Sr., Anne Brooke, Senator Edward W. Brooke,
Milton C. Davis and Ambassador Horace Dawson
Baltimore, MD (BlackNews.com) - Brother Edward Brooke, the first elected African-American Senator since Reconstruction, recently donated $100,000 to Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. This was one of the largest donations to the fraternity by an individual contributor, and comes towards the conclusion of the administration of 32nd General President Darryl R. Matthews, Sr. Matthews accepted the gift from Senator Brooke and his wife Anne recently during a private luncheon in Miami.
The funds will go to the Alpha Phi Alpha Charitable Foundation, specifically to provide scholarships and grants to African-American males pursuing careers in education as teachers. For many years, Brooke has been a leading advocate for the strong need to have African American males return to the classrooms and engage as positive and productive role models to young people. He spoke out about this at the first Alpha Phi Alpha National Scholarship Forum in 1996.
"Brother Brooke has continually served our fraternity and this country for many years. He exemplifies why America turns to Alpha, because we have in our midst great leaders, and our mission is to develop future leaders in every field of endeavor," said Matthews. "It is my distinguished honor to accept this donation from him and Anne with the hopes of inspiring African-American male educators for years to come."
The 89-year-old former senator has been a member of the fraternity for seven decades, and his involvement and commitment to Alpha has been unparalleled. Brooke had the passion and vision for the fraternity to have a strong presence in social and global change, which was actualized when he was selected as the first Chair of the Alpha Phi Alpha World Policy Council. The World Policy Council examines pressing issues affecting the national and international community and develops solutions and recommendations that impacts mankind.
In addition to the donation, the fraternity is preparing to celebrate its Founder's Day on December 4 -- commemorating 102 years of leadership and service. Since taking office in 2004, Matthews has been instrumental in generating substantial contributions to Alpha as well as other initiatives that the fraternity supports, including the National Martin Luther King Memorial Project and the March of Dimes.
Matthews was recently inducted into Pi Eta Kappa, Inc. at Medgar Evers College located in Brooklyn, New York. Pi Eta Kappa is an honor society for men dedicated to promoting cultural growth and academic excellence in scholarship. This prestigious honor is only bestowed upon an elite number of inductees. Matthews shared this honor with other inductees that included Earl Graves, Founder of Black Enterprise Magazine, Milton Nathaniel Barnes, Ambassador of Liberia to the United States and Grammy Award winner Hezekiah Walker along with other greats.
"Thank you for this great honor. I am humbled to be in the company of great men once again," said Matthews.
Founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has continued to supply voice and vision to the struggle of African Americans and people of color around the world. The Fraternity has long stood at the forefront of the African-American community's fight for civil rights, through Alpha men such as Martin Luther King Jr., Adam Clayton Powell, Thurgood Marshall, Andrew Young, Retired Senator Edward Brooke and Cornel West. Others include members of the 110th Congress including: Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO), Charles B. Rangel (NY), Danny K. Davis (IL), Chaka Fattah (PA), Al Green (TX), Gregory Meeks (NY), David Scott (GA), Robert C. Scott (VA). The fraternity through its college and alumni chapters serves the community through nearly a thousand chapters in the United States, Europe and the Caribbean.
CONTACT:
Monica Wood | MWPR, Inc.
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Kia Green | MWPR, Inc.
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