Contributed by Lauren Taylor

Howard Alumni Eddie C. Brown (B.S.E.E. ‘61) and C. Sylvia Brown (B.S. ‘62) gifted their alma mater $5 million in order to support the Graduation Retention Access to Continued Excellence (GRACE) Grant for students in financial need.

The couple’s donation makes it the largest alumni gift to Howard University in the University’s history. Eddie Brown is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Brown Capital management. Which is the second oldest Black-owned investment management firm in the world.

Eddie Brown started at Howard University campus at the young age of 16 years old in the College of Engineering. On that same campus is where he met Sylvia who was a student in what was then the College of Liberal Arts. The Brown’s decision to donate this historic gift in support of the GRACE Grant was not only due to their love of Howard but also because of their background. Eddie came from a low-income family and was given the opportunity to go to Howard on a full-ride by his 10th grade English teacher, who was also a graduate of Howard. Sylvia had student loans and understands the difficulty and stress that can have on a student.

She also said, “ Being from a family of four, my parents did the best they could, but that was never enough to pay all the fees. And that’s been our mantra, to give to others and help them at least be able to get an undergraduate degree so they have a good foundation.” This gift means a lot and is what Sylvia calls not giving back but “paying it forward.”

President of Howard University Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick says, “The GRACE Grant has helped to eliminate financial barriers to education for Howard students, and I am thrilled that the Browns were inspired to commit such a generous gift to this important fund. My hope is that students will be inspired by their story and generosity and that others in our alumni community will consider the many ways they, too, can impact current and future generations of Howard students.”