Tune into the Winners’ Announcement Ceremony on Tuesday, April 26th at 6 pm EST
HBCUs have some of the finest students and resources in the country. But to ensure they can maintain their cherished campuses too, The Retool Your School Campus Improvement Grant program created an impactful initiative that funds sustainable school improvements. On Tuesday, April 26, 2022, The Home Depot will host a ceremony announcing the 2022 Retool Your School winners as well as celebrate the importance of HBCUs.
Seasoned actor, Howard University alumnus, and long-time supporter of the program, Laz Alonso will host the event, which will be livestreamed on HBCU Buzz’s Facebook Page the Retool Your School website and Instagram Live @RetoolYourSchool. Joining Alonso, guest speaker, esteemed actor, and North Carolina A&T alumnus, Terrence J will talk about the importance of his HBCU experience and how it has shaped his life. DJ Stormy, an Alabama State University alumna, will be providing the music entertainment. It’s a night not to be missed.
Many HBCUs will benefit from the Retool Your School program. 59 HBCUs participated in the program this year, but a whopping 30 HBCUs will receive campus improvement grants ranging from $20,000 to $75,000, totaling $1 million in grants that will be awarded this year. One HBCU will be honored with the Campaign of the Year Award worth $45,000 for the school with the most original and creative marketing campaign to garner votes from their communities.
Since the program began in 2009, over $4.2 million dollars in campus improvement grants have been awarded to 74 HBCUs. 153 grants have been awarded to date, which will increase with this year’s winners. Including 2022, almost 54 million votes have been cast. In the 2022 contest alone, almost 10 million votes were added to the tally, a new record!
Winning schools are chosen through votes cast on the Retool Your School website and votes on Twitter and Instagram. To drive voting, schools made videos that they posted on social media, and votes were added each time supporters engaged using the school’s specific hashtag. For example, Jackson State University had the hashtag #RYSJackson. In the past, Jackson State has been able to update a lounge for commuter students, make playground and amphitheater improvements, and create an outdoor study space.
Watch the Winners’ Announcement Ceremony April 26 at 6 pm EST through livestream on the HBCU Buzz’s Facebook Page, the Retool Your School website or on Instagram live through the official Retool Your School account.
