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Spirited group walks the walk for UNCF By Felix Hoover
Photo By Terry Gilliam
Many Central Ohioans still believe that A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste. Folks like Melvin Folkes, Margaret Allen and Susan Norris, who annually take part in the UNCF Walk. Fraternities, sororities and youth groups formed walking teams in the effort to raise money for historically black colleges and universities and for needy student who attend HCBUs and other institutions of higher learning. The religious, business and civic communities also had plenty of representation at this year's event, which began at 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3. Walkers took off from Wolfe Park, headed to City Hall and returned to the park in fulfillment of pledges to the college fund. Headgear and light wraps helped walkers deal with the early morning chill, but probably started to feel comfortable after they got a little mileage under their feet. Volunteers who manned display tables at the park found that walking in place was a pretty good way to deal with the elements until sunlight and rising temperature made the environment ideal. Sonya Levatte of the North Side, a serious walker, vigorously pumped three-pound weights in each hand as got her stride stretching on the walk route. Her effort came as part of the Sigma Gamma Rho delegation. Camden Taylor, 12, with faithful dog Coko in tow, walked along with the Girls Scout troop based at Berwick K-7 School. Words of encouragement from Mike Jackson, a news anchor at NBC4, and Ray Adams, area development director for UNCF's Northern Region, sent walkers on their way.. Just getting students in the door isn't enough,Adams said. "Today, in terms of African-Americans, money is the No. 1 hindrance to degrees," he said. "If you look at young black people in terms of graduation rates, 60 percent of kids don't graduate from college for lack of money." The fund is helping young people get to junior colleges, but not to settle for associate degrees. "An associate degree is good, but in today's global economy we really need to get you to get a bachelor's degree and beyond." Adams said. This year's fund-raising goal was $225,000, he said. Boeing will put a $5,000 dent in that total, and that's just its contribution in Ohio, said Ron Yates, a business manager. He donates time to the UNCF schools and other college students to promote opportunities in engineering, he said. "I've got kids and want to get them into college and I'm looking for opportunities that I can help somebody else get in," Yates said.. Yalonda Wilson, a business analysis group manager for Chase, passed out T-shirts to walkers and others who stopped at the company's booth at the park. The financial institution also provided volunteers at water stations along the walk route. "It's exciting to be out here," said Tiffiany Jackson, new to Boeing. Even though Terri Jenkins used to work for UNCF in Akron and she has steadfastly supported the institution, this was her first volunteering with the walk in Columbus. Some of her sorors in the Alpha Sigma Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha did the walk, she drew table duty at the park. She figured she was "just lucky" to get the assignment. She hopes she'll have the same fortune in landing a job in accounting, she said.
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