Rihanna's Fenty Empire Now Funding HBCU Scholarships at Historic Rate

While Rihanna's business empire continues to grow, her philanthropic impact on Historically Black Colleges and Universities has been quietly transformative. Her Clara Lionel Foundation has now funded over 5,000 HBCU scholarships worth more than $30 million.

Why HBCUs

'HBCUs changed my life through the people they've produced,' Rihanna said at a ceremony at Howard University. 'These institutions are the backbone of Black excellence and they deserve every resource we can give them.'

The Bigger Picture

The funding comes as HBCUs face ongoing threats to federal funding and enrollment challenges exacerbated by student debt.