DAYTONA BEACH – Several students at Bethune-Cookman University will soon receive scholarships thanks to the generosity of congregations from throughout Central Florida.
At a recent Faith Leaders Breakfast in Orlando, more than 20 black, white and Latino pastors accepted an invitation from local businessman and real estate entrepreneur John Crossman to commit to establishing endowment scholarships for deserving B-CU students to help break the cycle of poverty through college education.
Pastors gave $36,000 and pledged to help raise another $14,000 to create a $50,000 endowment, according to Crossman, CEO of Crossman Career Builders and sponsor of the event.
“The breakfast not only raised money needed to fund the scholarships, but it also brought together a blend of religious leaders who formed friendships and relationships,” he said.
Crossman, whose father was a local pastor and a leader in the Civil Rights movement, said his family started the first endowment fund in 2004 in memory of the late Rev. Kenneth Crossman.
“I love that the endowment creates a relationship between the Central Florida pastors and the university,” he said. “I want to see the pastors giving lectures on campus and the students visiting their churches on break.”
About Bethune Cookman University: Founded in 1904 by Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, Bethune-Cookman University (B-CU) continues her legacy of faith, scholarship and service through a relationship with the United Methodist Church and its commitment to academic excellence and civic engagement. Born in 1875 on a farm in South Carolina, Bethune was the 15th child of former slaves. With a mission to help others, Bethune never gave up her dream. To honor her, an 11-foot-tall marble statue of Mary McLeod Bethune was unveiled inside the U.S. Capitol building in July 2022.
Located in Daytona Beach, B-CU is one of three private, historically black colleges in Florida. The institution has a diverse and international faculty and student body of more than 4,000. For more information, visit www.cookman.edu.
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For more information please contact:
John Crossman, president, Crossmarc Services, 407-794-9393 or jcrossman@crossmancb.com .
Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-461-3781 or beth@larryvershel.com