Stormzy’s Merky Foundation donates £500,000 to tackle racial inequality
Written by News on 18/08/2020
Stormzy’s Merky Foundation is giving £500,000 to help young people from underprivileged backgrounds through college or university.
It comes from a £10m fund set up by the British rapper to tackle racial inequality over the next decade.
The Black Heart Foundation is the first charity to receive some of the money, which it will put towards its Each Day Every Day campaign.
Stormzy announced back in June that he would be giving money to support organisations, charities and movements involved in tackling racial inequality, justice reform and black empowerment in the UK.
With the negative effects of the coronavirus pandemic set to hamper the economy for some time to come, the 27-year-old’s pledge of £10m over the next 10 years is now more needed than ever.
The Black Heart Foundation Each Day campaign was set up by US-born property developer Ric Lewis in response to the recent Black Lives Matter movement, with a goal to raise £500,000 to double the number of young people from under-resourced and under-represented communities it helps.
Including this latest gift, the foundation has raised more than £1.45m and helped 200 people via its scholarship programme.
A spokesperson for the #Merky Foundation said: “The Black Heart Foundation is an incredible charity and we are proud to make them the first beneficiary to receive funding from our £10m pledge, announced earlier this year.
“Their Each Day Every Day campaign is a brilliant initiative and we are elated that our £500,000 donation has played a key part in helping them achieve their target. We encourage others to donate whatever they can to help change a young person’s life.”
The charity provides funding for young people who would not otherwise be able to afford higher or further education.
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Black Heart founder Ric Lewis said: “We are grateful to #Merky Foundation and invigorated by their generosity.
“Their contribution is an amazing testament to their vision and commitment to higher and further education for ambitious, hard-working young people from the most under-resourced and under-represented communities in our society.”
Black Heart Foundation is still striving to hit its original £500,000 crowdfunding target on Just Giving, and is matching donations given pound-for-pound.
(c) Sky News 2020: Stormzy’s Merky Foundation donates £500,000 to tackle racial inequality
