Disney gives $1 million grant to FAMU for journalism and graphic communications programs

by | Nov 4, 2022



  • The Walt Disney Company announced that it is awarding a $1 million grant to the Florida A&M University School of Journalism & Graphic Communication 
  • The grant will help create the Disney Storytellers Fund, which will provide financial assistance to participants of the Disney Future Storytellers Program 
  • The grant will be paid out over five years 
  • University officials state that 15-20 high-achieving students will be selected each year to receive funding from the grant

The Walt Disney Company announced the awarding of a $1 million grant to Florida AM University’s (FAMU) School of Journalism & Graphic Communication to aid in the development of the Disney Storytellers Fund.

The funding will be allocated to FAMU’s School of Journalism and Graphic Communication, where Disney Future Storytellers Program participants will receive tuition reimbursement, housing scholarships, and stipends.

The investment will be further used to establish specialized leadership development for students selected to partake in the Storytellers Program.

“I hope that this donation from The Walt Disney Company will allow the next generation of bold, straightforward journalists to uncover their potential and achieve their dreams too,” FAMU alumnus and ABC News president Kimberly Godwin said at the grant’s announcement.

Mira Lowe, dean of the journalism college, told members of the media that scholarships and other benefits of the grant would be awarded to 15-20 high-achieving students each year.

Per university statistics, the School of Journalism Graphic Communication presently has 500 students.

In 1982, the FAMU School of Journalism Graphic Communication was the first program of its type at a Historically Black College or University to receive accreditation.

“Across Disney’s iconic brands, we are committed to increasing representation, inclusive storytelling, and opportunity,” said Jennifer Cohen, executive vice president, Corporate Social Responsibility, at The Walt Disney Company. “The Disney Storytellers Fund at Florida AM University’s School of Journalism and Communication will help empower the next generation of Black journalists, news, and media executives, while also building on the rich legacy of creativity and innovation that the university has cultivated for decades.”

FAMU’s journalism school also received $350,000 from Comcast NBCUniversal this week. The donation will be used to purchase new equipment and provide scholarships for students showing financial need.

FAMU is one of 30 academic partners with Comcast NBCUniversal, a partnership that provides the university with funding resources, technological advancements, and opportunities for graduates to seek professional opportunities with the company.

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