FAMU receives $1 million from TikTok for scholarships

Logo courtesy TikTok

TikTok made the day for Florida A&M University students who were thrilled to learn Wednesday that TikTok’s Future Health Heroes Fund will be giving FAMU $1 million for scholarships.

The fund is designed to provide undergraduate and graduate scholarships for Black, Latinx and indigenous students pursuing medical and health care careers.

Since 2020 has been a difficult year for many people, TikTok made a commitment to supporting the efforts of healthcare workers. Earlier in the year, TikTok donated $150 million through its Health Heroes Relief Fund. The Chinese-owned video-sharing social networking service donated $10 million to 10 different institutions that serve underrepresented students with programs focused on public health and professions in the medical and healthcare fields.

“We believe investing in the next generation of Black, Latinx, and indigenous doctors, nurses, pediatricians, surgeons, and other essential health care workers is one of the best ways to invest in the future of America,” TikTok said in a release.

Florida A&M University is one of the 10 universities to be selected to  receive money from the $10 million fund. The $1 million is targeted to help ensure students from underrepresented communities have access to educational opportunities in areas such as medicine, allied health sciences, nursing, pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences, and public health.

Students said the scholarship money was a generous gift, and is a great way to help them pursue their health careers. Ciara Clark, a pharmacy major and Ariel Davson, a biology/pre-med major, agree.

“This year has been not only difficult but stressful for myself and others, I thought it was a generous gift for TikTok to give especially after the year we had. The scholarship money would be a great help to not only myself but my classmates, I can’t wait to apply,” Clark said.

Dawson said: “The scholarship money would make a big difference, I believe it shows appreciation to health students. It’s good to know that TikTok wants us to succeed; they didn’t have to do that. The scholarship will help us continue what we started.”

Other institutions receiving Future Health Heroes Fund donations are Delaware State University, Laredo College, North Carolina A&T University, North Carolina Central University, South Carolina State University, University of South Dakota, Tougaloo College, Virginia Union University and Xavier University of Louisiana.