HBCU institutions have received a wealth of support in recent years.
From donations and fundraisers to famous coaches and sponsorships, HBCU schools and their athletic programs have benefitted from a renewed emphasis on these institutions.
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) is one of those fortunate HBCU institutions.
In 2018, UAPB announced that Pine Bluff-based Simmons Bank was gifting the university $2.5 million for upgrades to its football and baseball facilities.
It was the largest gift in UAPB history and helped fund a new football stadium scoreboard and turf, and the baseball pavilion at the Torii Hunter Baseball and Softball Complex.
In 2008, Hunter, a 5x MLB All-Star and 9x Gold Glove winner, donated $500,000 to his hometown university to begin construction on the complex.
These are all great moments for UAPB.
But like most HBCU institutions, funding is a challenge for the university, and that holds true today.
In a story by The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, the financial obstacles faced by the university were highlighted.
The athletic department, led by Athletic Director Chris Robinson, faces a deficit of approximately $3 million.
He’s forced to play a balancing act between addressing the department’s financial demands while improving UAPB facilities, expanding its offerings and becoming self-sustaining.
Continue reading over at First and Pen.
This content has been brought to you by First and Pen in partnership with TheHub.News. First and Pen “amplifies local sports stories from voices of color to the national conscience…”