BATON ROUGE, La (BRPROUD)- On Friday, Dec. 10 The Center of Excellence for Nutrition, Health, Wellness, and Quality of Life (NHWQL), located at Southern University Agricultural Research & Extension Center (SU Ag Center), announces a $500,000 award from the 1890 Universities Foundation.
According to the news release—the funding is made possible through a grant from Walmart’s Center for Racial Equity.
President and CEO of the 1890 Universities Foundation Dr. Mort Neufville, shares the following statement;
“The 1890 Universities Foundation is pleased to provide supplemental funding to support the important work of the Center for Nutrition, Health, Wellness, and Quality of Life which is the newest center in the 1890 Centers of Excellence program. This funding is made possible through the 1890 Foundation’s partnership with Walmart and is an example of the Foundation’s mission to assist the 1890 Universities by leveraging partnerships to fund innovative solutions to address compelling economic, social, health, environmental and technological challenges facing our communities,” said Dr. Mort Neufville, President and CEO of the 1890 Universities Foundation.
Walmart also announces the grant in a press release stating that the funds will build staff capacity to prepare students for careers in fields such as agriculture, healthcare, and technology via the Foundation’s four Centers of Excellence across its 19 institutions.
“The Southern University Ag Center is appreciative to the Walmart Foundation who recognized that the Southern University Center of Excellence for Nutrition, Health, Wellness and Quality of Life was worthy of investing in, as it aligns with our mutual goals around improving the quality of life for the Citizens we collectively serve,” said Dr. Orlando F. McMeans, Chancellor-Dean of the SU Ag Center and the College of Ag. “
“I am also appreciative to USDA-NIFA for awarding Southern this Center of Excellence designation and its initial funding. And lastly, thanks to the 1890 Foundation and its leadership for seeking partnerships that will advance the missions of these Centers,” expressed Dr. McMeans,” he added.
For more information on the 1890 Universities Foundation visit here. Further information on Walmart Racial Center for Racial Equality Equity
African Americans (AAs) remain the least healthy ethnic group in the USA. Diet is a key contributor to disparities in many chronic diseases and conditions; AAs communities have trusted the 1890 institutions for more than a century, therefore—they can play important roles in assisting AAs to combat diet-related disparities especially obesity and its related chronic diseases.
