Coco Gauff Proudly Champions Black History Month With a Generous $100K Donation to a Worthy Cause

Have you ever wondered what makes a player a legend? It’s not just their game that counts, but their grace, both on and off the court. Take Coco Gauff, for example. Remember the China Open last year? After winning the first two sets against Japanese Naomi Osaka, who was struggling with a back injury in the QF, Gauff didn’t just celebrate her victory; instead, she showed pure class by helping Osaka carry her bags off the court. And now, she’s once again proving her champion spirit with a generous donation to support ‘Black students’ in pursuing education and competitive tennis through UNCF, carving her path to tennis greatness!

The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) is recognized as the largest and most impactful minority educational organization in the United States. Dedicated to empowering the country’s youth and communities, UNCF supports 37 member colleges and universities, actively fostering their growth in both sports and education. UNCF administers over 400 programs, including scholarships, internships, fellowships, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum development.

Today, UNCF supports more than 50,000 students at over 1,100 colleges and universities nationwide. HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) have received significant donations from various corporations, such as Google, Apple, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Carnegie Corporation of New York. However, at just 20, recently Coco has made history as one of the youngest major donors to UNCF, pledging a generous donation to support HBCU students.

The UNCF recently published a statement where the organization confirmed Coco will donate around $100,000 as gifts to HBCU students, aspiring to excel in competitive tennis. And following that, the American also shared her views, defining her family roots with HBSU.

She said, “My family has a deep-rooted history with HBCUs, going all the way back to my great, great grandfather. From aunts and uncles to cousins, HBCUs have played a huge role in shaping who we are. Supporting UNCF in creating opportunities for student-athletes in tennis means a lot to me,”.

Coco Gauff continued according to UNCF, “As a young Black athlete, I understand how impactful it is to see people who look like me thriving in both sports and education. I want to help the next generation of student-athletes continue pursuing their passion for tennis while reaching their academic goals. My hope is that this scholarship gives more young Black players the confidence to chase their dreams, knowing they have a strong community behind them and a bright future ahead.”

The “Coco Gauff Scholarship Program” will now be administered directly by UNCF, awarding scholarships to eligible students pursuing tennis from May 2025. But where did Coco’s admiration for charity, particularly within her community, originate?

Yvonne Lee Odom, Coco’s grandmother, has been one of her standout supporters while raising her voice against racial issues. Even the 3rd seed mentioned how her grandmother stood up against racial injustices during her college years. It ultimately boosted her confidence once she became the first Black student to attend Seacrest High in Florida. “She’s the sole, or one of the main, reasons why I use my platform the way that I do and why I feel so comfortable speaking out,” Coco added.

However, this is far from the first time Coco has shown her generosity and class in supporting her community.

Coco talks about her role models while backing black players!

Coco’s dedication to supporting the Black community is nothing new. Time and again, she has spoken about uplifting her community while honoring the trailblazers who paved the way for sports. Take the Williams sisters, for example. The current 3rd seed also expressed her desire to follow her role model Venus and Serena to inspire the community in a video for “Baker Tilly US” last year.

“Finding myself was difficult. Being Black in tennis is, sometimes you do stick out like a sore thumb. Like in the Black community, tennis is not a huge thing. Nobody really knew anything about it. I had mentioned that I play tennis but nobody cared. But I feel like for me, having role models like Serena and Venus to look up to made a difference,” she added.

“That’s what pushes me to keep going. Just because the sport is predominantly white, you believe you can do that passion when you see somebody that looks like you being successful. Hopefully, I can be that belief for somebody else,” Coco Gauff mentioned.

Now, Coco is preparing for her in-court return at the Qatar Open 2025, starting on 9th February. Can she recover from her Happy Slam early exit by winning the Doha tournament? Share your thoughts below!