North High seniors got quite a surprise on Friday, April 15 as Pillsbury United Communities (Pillsbury United) announced the launch of $1M in scholarship funds. Every graduating North High senior this year will receive up to $10,000 for their post-secondary education.
Leaders at Pillsbury United said the North High Scholarship Fund was set up in early 2022 to counteract the extreme challenges this year’s graduating class has faced, from the pandemic and the murder of George Floyd to the Minneapolis Public Schools’ educator strike, and disproportionate experiences of community-based violence—most recently the murder of their beloved classmate Deshaun Hill, Jr.
“This is a moment for sowing hope into those who have been profoundly affected by the events and losses of the past few years and ongoing entrenched inequities,” said Pillsbury United CEO and President, Adair Mosley. “We believe direct investments in young people are powerful. This fund will meaningfully support students in actualizing the futures of their wildest dreams. We are following transformative models across the country and aim to have a generational impact on prosperity.”
Roughly 100 students are on track to graduate in spring 2022. Upon successful graduation, each senior will earn up to $10,000 for post-secondary career training or college. Pillsbury United will hold the funds and remit them directly to the educational institutions of students choosing.
Students who do not have an immediate plan will have up to one year to determine their post-secondary educational goals. Pillsbury United said it will make its college and career counselors available during summer hours to support the students through this process.
The North High Scholarship Fund is made possible through contributions from The Margaret A. Cargill Foundation Fund at the St. Paul & Minnesota Foundation; Cargill Foundation; General Mills; McKnight Foundation; Minneapolis Foundation; Minnesota Twins; Target; and the U.S. Bank Foundation.
Pillsbury United is an agency with a 140-year legacy of recognizing and amplifying the assets and aspirations of the communities living in historically underinvested neighborhoods across Minneapolis. The organization welcomes additional contributions to the fund and plans to explore how to continue and expand it in the years to come. Visit this link to donate.
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