SPONSORED CONTENT -- (StatePoint) At a time of declining enrollment and rising college costs, extra support of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) can give more young people a chance at a bright future.

“HBCUs nurture the success of tomorrow’s leaders. That’s why investing in the HBCU community is critically important,” says Dewey Norwood, senior diversity and inclusion consultant and HBCU strategy lead at Wells Fargo.

In fact, since 2011, Wells Fargo has provided more than $40 million directly to HBCUs and to organizations that support them, including the United Negro College Fund, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and the Jackie Robinson Foundation. And this fall, Wells Fargo will be continuing a spate of initiatives and launching additional ones all with the goal of helping HBCUs, their students, and their broader communities thrive. Here’s what to know:

Preparing for kick-off with HBCU Football Classics: For the third year in a row, Wells Fargo will serve as the official banking sponsor of several football games, including the following:

Orange Blossom Classic (Miami, FL) on September 1: North Carolina Central University vs. Alabama State University

HBCU NY Classic (East Rutherford, NJ) on September 14: Howard University vs. Morehouse College

Florida Classic (Orlando, FL) on November 23: Florida A&M University vs. Bethune Cookman University

Bayou Classic (New Orleans, LA) on November 30: Southern University vs. Grambling State University

As part of sponsoring four games this year, Wells Fargo will offer virtual webinar workshops on such topics as financial health, housing opportunities, leveraging name, image and likeness (NIL) opportunities for college athletes, paying for college, small business and entrepreneurship education, recruiting and talent acquisition, estate planning, and elder fraud prevention. Workshops are open to all students, alumni and fans looking to advance their financial knowledge or grow their business. On the ground at each event, Wells Fargo will have an interactive booth set-up at the fan-fest events. Employees will be able to engage with fans before the games to provide information about Wells Fargo, including career opportunities, in a fun environment.

Customizing financial education for student-athletes:Game Plan, the comprehensive, intuitive mobile-first learning management system built by student-athletes for student-athletes, offers free financial education to all 1,200 American collegiate athletic departments – including those at 107 HBCUs, courtesy of Wells Fargo.

“HBCU student-athletes are expected to juggle classes, games, practices, meetings and other commitments. Making educational content critical to their life skills development available in one easy-to-access digital platform is helping position students for future financial success,” says Norwood.

Show your HBCU pride: HBCU supporters can show off their fandom by customizing their Wells Fargo debit card for free with their favorite HBCU design through the bank’s HBCU Legends Collection. Honoring the rich heritage of the nation’s iconic HBCUs, the collection currently features 44 designs.

Insights and advice: Wells Fargo supports HBCUs by serving as a resource for parents and students. Check out their tips for paying for school:

1. Seek external scholarships. Scholarship opportunities abound, including those aimed at supporting Black students and other diverse demographics.

2. Don’t be dissuaded by sticker shock. Filling out the FAFSA each year can help your family potentially access thousands of dollars in financial aid.

3. Exhaust all options. Before taking out a student loan, consider other possibilities first, including the school’s financial aid package and private grants. The goal is to graduate with as little debt as possible.

More insights can be found at https://stories.wf.com/how-to-pay-for-college.

“Initiatives that support students throughout their college journey provide pathways to career success that will strengthen the HBCU community now and in the future,” says Norwood.

*****

Photo Credit: (c) MangoStar_Studio / iStock via Getty Images Plus