(WASHINGTON, DC) -- The Schwartz Family Foundation has donated graciously to Howard University’s GRACE (Graduation Retention Access to Continued Excellence) program to ease the financial load for pre-med students. 

The Schwartz Family GRACE Scholarship Fund will support undergraduate students in pre-medical curricula, positioning them to fulfill their goals of attending medical school.

“On behalf the Howard University community, thank you to Eric Schwartz and the Schwartz Family Foundation for this magnanimous gift that will support the academic aspirations of our students who are pursuing   careers in the medical field. This investment will go a long way in removing the financial burdens that far too often create barriers for talented and driven students to succeed,” said Howard University President Ben Vinson III, PhD. 

Eric S. Schwartz of the Schwartz Family Foundation said, “I am glad to provide this funding to support pre-medical students at Howard University and challenge others to give as well. The need for more professionals to enter the medical field is greater than ever. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed stresses in the U.S. health-care system, and we continue to cope with systemic racism and inequities in the delivery of medical services. We as a nation cannot afford to lose people with potential because of the costs of education.”

“On behalf of the College of Medicine, I thank the Schwartz Family Foundation for this donation. I am grateful for this endorsement of the quality education and training and the outstanding clinical experience we provide to our students. This will aid us in our mission to prepare the next generation of professionals who are invested in treatment and research for the most debilitating diseases that particularly affect our community,” said Andrea Hayes Dixon, MD, FACS, PhD, h.c., dean and vice president of clinical affairs.

Established in 2014, the GRACE Grant Endowed Fund allows students with the greatest financial need to stay in school and graduate on time. Howard’s GRACE Grants provide additional funding for students who receive the maximum federal Pell Grant. Distributed based on student need, the GRACE program offers a 100 percent match for federal Pell Grants and additional funding to fill the gap. 

Since the inception of the GRACE program, recipients saw an average 15 percent increase in retention and an average four-year graduation rate of 78 percent, a 32 percent increase compared to students who did not receive GRACE funds.

Howard University is committed to ensuring that students with little to no expected family contribution (EFC) are able to focus on their academic success instead of concerns about their financial standing.

For more information, contact:

Lydia Sermons, Vice President and Chief Communications Officer
Cell phone: (202) 803-3501
mediarelations@howard.edu

Cedric Mobley, Assistant Vice President for Strategic Communications, Media Relations, and Editorial Services
Cell phone: (202) 368-3392
mediarelations@howard.edu