SALT LAKE CITY-Monday, The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the national leadership for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) announced new educational and humanitarian initiatives related to their ongoing collaboration.

The groups first intersected in May 2018, commencing a budding relationship.

Church President Russell M. Nelson was joined at this meeting by his counselors in the First Presidency, President Dallin H. Oaks and President Henry B. Eyring, Elders Ronald A. Rasband and Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles and Elder Jack N. Gerard, a General Authority Seventy.

After meeting with NAACP personnel Monday, Church President Russell M. Nelson announced three key initiatives.

They can be viewed at the link below:

Pres. Nelson shared additional details concerning the academic and philanthropic-focused plans that have resulted from ongoing discussions and collaboration.

The Salt Lake City-based faith will fund a $1 million scholarship donation per year for three years overseen by the United Negro College Fund. This will assist young black students in the United States.

Furthermore, Pres. Nelson shared the Church’s plans to provide $250,000 for an Amos C. Brown Student Fellowship to Ghana, explaining this experience “will allow selected students from the USA an opportunity to learn more about their heritage.”

Pres. Nelson continued, saying these efforts represent the Church’s desire to teach and live the two greatest commandments, to love God and neighbor. Furthermore, these entities will “bring relief to suffering souls in underprivileged areas of the United States.”

Through these efforts, he said, important principles of self-reliance can be taught.

Pres. Nelson pledged a $2 million church contribution annually for the next three years “to encourage service and help those in need.”

NAACP leaders in attendance included president and CEO, Derrick Johnson, special counsel Wilbur Colom, chief of staff Eris Simms, chief strategy officer Yumeka Rushing and Reverend Dr. Amos C. Brown, Senior Pastor of the Third Baptist Church of San Francisco and the president of the San Francisco NAACP branch.

UNCF representatives at the proceedings included Dr. Michael L. Lomax, President and CEO, Maurice E. Jenkins Jr., Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer and Monica Sudduth, the Regional Development Director of San Francisco.

Pres. Nelson expressed his thanks to NAACP and UNCF leaders for being a part of this shared vision.