TikTok, a leading destination for short-form mobile video, has awarded $1 million to North Carolina Central University (NCCU) to support students pursuing degrees in health care.
The gift is part of $10 million in funding to 10 academic institutions that serve underrepresented students with programs focused on public health and professions in the medical and healthcare fields. It is as a continuation of TikTok’s commitment to support the efforts of healthcare workers that began with their donation of $150 million earlier this year through their Health Heroes Relief Fund.
The award will provide scholarships for NCCU students from underrepresented groups studying medicine, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) planning to enter careers in medicine, science, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.
“Health care workers are the heroes of the global pandemic,” said Belinda Frazier, Head of Culture and Diversity, TikTok North America. “The TikTok Health Heroes Relief Fund was created to support their efforts, and we are honored to be able to continue our commitment to the health care community. We believe the next generation of health heroes should be reflective of the world around us, and we are proud to support medical and health education programs that serve Black, Latinx, and Indigenous students,”
Chancellor Johnson O. Akinleye said NCCU and TikTok share a commitment to inspiring creativity as a means of improving our society.
“This investment will ensure our students who aspire to serve on the frontlines of care can complete their education and pursue solutions for some of the most challenging medical issues confronting our society, including COVID-19,” said Johnson O. Akinleye, Ph.D. “NCCU graduates are leaders in the health sciences and provide valuable services to vulnerable citizens in North Carolina and around the country. We are grateful to TikTok for demonstrating the value of this critical workforce with a significant gift that furthers the education of healthcare professionals at our university.”
NCCU is also a leader in the study of health disparities through its two research institutes, the Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute (JLC-BBRI) and the Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise (BRITE).
For the official news release from TikTok, please visit https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/tiktok-10-m-donation-to-support-future-black-latinx-indigenous-health-heroes.
