As much as his career's blown up, Lil Durk has always kept an ear to his community and taken big steps to lend a hand. Moreover, he just announced the creation and development of the Durk Banks Endowment Fund as part of a collaboration with Amazon Music. Most importantly, though, he donated a total of $350,000 to Howard University in the form of scholarships and grants. Specifically, he will give two Chicago students $50,000 each to attend the HBCU, as well as $250,000 that will contribute to the university's GRACE Grant.
Furthermore, Durkio will announce said students on Friday (April 14) during his performance at Howard's 2023 Springfest. Also, he and his team selected them from a pool of 20 participants in his Neighborhood Heroes HBCU College & Career Readiness Cohort Program. To elaborate, the GRACE Grant is a program that helps students through assisting with tuition costs according to the institution. Established in 2014 by President Frederick, it was intended to assist students with the most dire financial needs, and to great result. In the years following its implementation, retention rates among recipients increased by 15%, with four-year graduations at a rate of 78%. This is a 32% increase compared to non-recipients.
Lil Durk Gives Back To Students At Howard University
Through his Neighborhood Heroes Foundation, the Career Readiness program launched in 2022 and gave many opportunities to youngsters in need. Students went on an HBCU college tour in states and cities like Atlanta and Alabama. Also, some of them traveled to New York City to meet executives and professionals at Sony, Alamo Music, and the New York Knicks. Not only that, but they shadowed seasoned veterans in various industries to gain valuable experience.
"I didn’t believe in anything, but being able to have opportunities like this is a big uprise from where I used to be," Lil Durk remarked. His good deeds continue, even in the seemingly smallest but most impactful ways. The 30-year-old partnered with Chicago Votes gave 29,000 bottles of hand sanitizer to the Illinois Department of Corrections amid high COVID-19 resurgence rates and a water crisis in one of the state's largest prisons. As The Voice of a generation, Durk continues to show his commitment to creating brighter days ahead for the old, the young, and those in need. For the latest news and updates on Lil Durk, check back in with HNHH.