The Santa Monica College (SMC) Black Collegians Program Umoja Community has received a $325,000 donation from private donor Ann Wang. Wang’s gift will make possible an annual program fund to provide greater opportunities for SMC’s African American students, and also establishes an endowment. In fall 2019, the college’s Black Collegians program celebrated 30 years of championing the success of African American students, who make up about nine percent of the student body.
Ms. Wang—who oversees the Wang Joint Living Trust established by her in-laws—heard about the exciting, transformative work taking place at SMC through her long-time RAND colleague, Iao Katagiri, who recently retired from RAND as its community relations director. Eventually, Wang made her way to the college’s main campus on 1900 Pico Blvd. for a tour. She dropped by several classrooms and programs—including Black Collegians. Several students talked to her about their life experiences; Funmi Adeleye was one of them.
“I was just blown away by the passion and commitment—not just of the grown-ups in the room but also of the students themselves. I learned about some of the heartbreaking things these students have had to overcome, and what they have to fight every single day of their lives to get an education,” said Wang. “I thought ‘This is what I want to do.’”
And so, on a day that happened to be her birthday, Ann Wang came back to the SMC Black Collegians Umoja Community office on the second floor of the new SMC Student Services Center. It was the best birthday present to “give people what they need,” she said, adding: “We all cried.”
SMC student Funmi Adeleye—who wants to transfer eventually, and is working towards a degree in computer science—was present for Ann Wang’s birthday gesture: “Her kindness and generosity means a lot to me. It was a blessing to the Black Collegians Program and to me personally.”
“I want everyone to be as confident and stand as straight and tall as Funmi does” said Wang. “[He] made the difference. If [SMC] could do this for this one kid, they can do it for a lot of kids!” Talking to Adeleye and “hearing him describe how he felt about himself when he first came to the school and who he is today told me that these people are doing important work and are changing lives.”
Wang’s $25,000 donation will support the Black Collegians Program Fund, as well as establish a new endowed fund with a gift of $300,000 to support the Black Collegians Program. Among other things, her gift will support food security programs for SMC Black Collegians, emergency funds, textbooks, and more. It will also make possible professional development and bring guest speakers to campus, university visits with chartered transportation for Black Collegians, and will support mental health counseling.
