6 minute read
Business
Morgan State Dropout Donates $20 Million for College Scholarships
Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer
He attended Morgan State College nearly 40 years ago and had to drop out because he could not afford it. (In 1975, Morgan State was designated a university by the Maryland legislature).
Calvin E. Tyler Jr. and his wife, Tina, Feb. 22 presented the historically Black university with a $20 million commitment, increasing an endowed scholarship fund previously established in the Tyler name.
According to a news release, the gift is the largest private donation from an alumnus in university history and is bigger than any HBCU alum donation.
“Morgan is so proud to call this son and daughter of the great City of Baltimore our own, and through their historic giving, the doors of higher education will most certainly be kept open for generations of aspiring leaders whose financial shortfalls may have kept them from realizing their academic dreams,” David K. Wilson, president of Morgan State University, stated in the release.
“For public institutions, like Morgan, our charitable alumni are testaments to the legacy we collectively uphold, and the Tylers’ generosity over the years, culminating with this transformative commitment, is a remarkable example of altruism with great purpose. We are forever indebted to the Tylers,” Wilson noted.
Calvin Tyler’s story is remarkable.
He enrolled at Morgan State College in 1961 to study and earn a degree in business administration.
Tyler, first in his family to make it to college, was forced to drop out two years after enrollment because he lacked funds for tuition.
Instead, he went to work at, United Parcel Service, one of the first 10 UPS drivers in Baltimore.
At UPS, he steadily climbed the corporate ladder, working his way to senior vice president of operations before his retirement in 1998.
Tyler then joined UPS’s board of directors.
Still, Morgan State officials said, Tyler “never lost sight of his humble beginnings, committing with his wife Tina to support those who, like him, encountered hardships and financial insecurities while pursuing their college degree.”
In 2002, the couple started the Calvin and Tina Tyler Endowed Scholarship Fund to provide full-tuition scholarships for select needbased students residing in Baltimore – the Tyler’s hometown.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Tylers expanded their giving, making the endowed scholarship available nationally.
According to the release, the endowed fund has supported 222 Morgan students through 46 full-tuition and 176 partial scholarships, with the promise of benefiting more “Tyler Scholars” with the increased multimillion-dollar pledge and an expanded scope.
“My wife and I have become keenly aware of the effect that the pandemic has had on a number of young people trying to get an education [and] we have the resources to help a lot of young people,” Tyler shared in a statement.
“This is why we are increasing our commitment at Morgan; we want to have more full-tuition scholarships offered to young people so that they
5 Calvin and Tina Tyler continue to pay it forward. (Courtesy Morgan State
can graduate from college and enter the next stage of their life debt-free.”
Five years ago, Calvin and Tina committed $5 million to Morgan, a contribution that stood as the largest in the university’s history.
“Endowed scholarships and other gifts have far-reaching implications for any institution, but for a public, urban university like Morgan, with students from a broad spectrum of academic, social, and economic backgrounds, the need is especially great,” stated Donna Howard, vice president for institutional advancement at Morgan.
“We are forever grateful to the Tylers for their unrelenting charity to alma mater. The impact of their generosity will have a prevailing effect fostering Morgan-made leaders for generations.” wi @StacyBrownMedia
Apple Macbook Airs and iPads
Two Rivers Public Charter School intends to enter into a sole source contract with Apple Inc. to provide technology equipment consisting of Macbook Air laptops and iPad tablets. The cost of this contract will be approximately $42,552. The decision to sole source was made because Apple Inc. is uniquely qualified to provide technology equipment due to the proprietary design of their equipment. Two Rivers’ existing technology is Apple-product based and we want to continue with the current infrastructure. Please contact Gail Williams with any questions at procurement@tworiverspcs.org.
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I Hear Ya! Entertainment Keeps the Go-Go Groove Going with ‘She Ready’
Sirius Company, featuring Ms Kim and Scooby, Celebrates Achievements of Black Women
D. Kevin McNeir WI Editor
On Friday, Feb. 26, just in time for Women’s History Month, I Hear Ya! Entertainment, LLC, founded and directed by D.C.’s legendary promoter and record executive Darryll Brooks, released “She Ready,” written and performed by the popular go-go group Sirius Company featuring Ms Kim and Scooby.
Sirius Company’s front man, guitarist and vocalist Frank “Scooby” Sirius, who earned his stripes performing with legendary go-go groups like the Chuck Brown Band and Team Familiar, said the motivation for the song came from the talented Ms. Kim.
As go-go fans know, Ms. Kim serves as the group’s talented female lead vocalist and on their latest release she, as always, delivers the goods in her own special way.
“This release serves as another step toward our goal of packaging and delivering go-go in an image and sound that can be embraced on a national level,” Frank said.
“As the title of the song indicates, women are achieving some amazing and unprecedented heights including America electing its first Black woman as vice president. But Black women are doing well in many other aspects of society as well. Our own Ms Kim Michelle has a strong personality both on and off stage and we wanted to translate her prowess in being a strong woman in this song. I think we’ve accomplished that goal,” he said.
Brooks shared his excitement over the new release.
“This is the first release for I Hear Ya! Entertainment, LLC for this year (2021) but we’ve been around since 1987 with Go-Go Live when we featured Rare Essence, Chuck Brown and other D.C.-based groups,” he said.
“We’re just picking up where we left off. We have some super talent and Sirius Company simply confirms that. The image of our record label remains what it’s been from the beginning: bringing positive energy to audiences on a global stage,” Brooks added.
For more information on I Hear Ya! Entertainment, including label roster and events, contact Darryll Brooks at darryllbrooks@aol.com or dbrooks@ ihearyaent.com. WI
5 The logo for Darryll Brooks’ I Hear Ya! Entertainment, LLC. (Courtesy Darryll Brooks)
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