Fort Valley State University officially kicked off its 2016 Tom Joyner Foundation "School of the Month" Drive during the recent "FVSU Night at the Tubman Museum" held in Macon. University alum and area businessman Jarius Jones, chair of the Tom Joyner "School of the Month" drive and a member of the FVSU Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors, donated $2,500 to the campaign that will support student scholarships.

Accepting the check on behalf of the university was FVSU president Dr. Paul Jones and FVSU National Alumni Association president/FVSU Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors member Melvin Douglas Morris.
The "School of the Month" fundraising effort will allow FVSU to be featured on the nationally syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show during the month of November 2016.  Joyner, a nationally syndicated radio personality, formed the foundation in an ongoing effort to support historically black colleges and universities. The 'Schools of the Month' drive assists chosen institutions in broadening and strengthening their efforts to raise money to help students attending HBCUs.

As one of the 'Schools of the Month,' Fort Valley State will be promoted by the Tom Joyner Morning Show and receive funds raised from listeners, alumni and other interested parties for student scholarships. The show airs in more than 100 markets around the country and reaches nearly eight million listeners every week.

Dr. Melody Carter, Fort Valley State's vice president for External Affairs and executive director for the FVSU Foundation, Inc., said the initiative would be an exciting opportunity to encourage more support for FVSU student scholarships. FVSU's fundraising efforts will continue through November 2016.

"Fort Valley State University always looks forward to partnering with the Tom Joyner Foundation" Carter said. "We will be rolling out exciting challenges to foster the spirit of competition to support student scholarships."

Every week in November 2016, TJF also will award a $1,500 Hercules Scholarship to a qualified male student. The recipients will be announced on the Tom Joyner Morning Show and social media each Thursday morning.