WARNER BROS. TELEVISION GROUP ANNOUNCES "ALL AMERICAN: HOMECOMING" HBCU SCHOLARSHIP IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NAACP
BURBANK, Calif. (February 23, 2022) - Warner Bros. Television Group today announced the establishment of a new scholarship to support students in need of financial assistance at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), inspired by the new WBTV series All American: Homecoming, from executive producer/showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll and Berlanti Productions. Developed in partnership with the NAACP, the Warner Bros. Television Group All American: Homecoming Grand Slam Scholarship will award $100,000 in grants to 10 students ($10,000 per scholarship) pursuing degrees at HBCU institutions throughout the United States. All American: Homecoming is a new young adult sports drama for The CW set against the backdrop of the HBCU experience at the fictional Bringston University, where Black excellence is a way of life. The announcement was made today during an All American: Homecoming panel hosted by the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA). A spinoff of the critically acclaimed hit WBTV/The CW drama All American, All American: Homecoming continues to tell inclusive and authentic stories that center the Black experience in American life.
HBCU students can apply for the WBTVG All American: Homecoming Grand Slam Scholarship in early March. For more information, please visit the NAACP's website.
Warner Bros. Television Group Chairman Channing Dungey said: "We are thrilled to partner with the NAACP on the All American: Homecoming scholarship, which will provide financial support to students at HBCUs as they pursue their dreams through education. And we are also excited to celebrate the dynamic on-screen depiction of HBCU life at Bringston University in this powerful new show from Nkechi Okoro Carroll and Berlanti Productions."
All American: Homecoming executive producer/showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll said: "Honoring my family and friends who attended HBCUs by bringing Bringston University to life has been a dream come true. All American: Homecoming is a celebration of the HBCU experience, a celebration of Black youth, a celebration of our culture. It's wonderful that Warner Bros. Television Group is furthering that celebration and contributing to the pursuit of excellence by offering scholarships to real-life HBCU students."
This initiative marks the Studio's first time collaborating with the NAACP to offer scholarships to HBCU students.
NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson said: "The partnership with Warner Bros. Television Group is an excellent illustration of how corporations can give back and do their part for a more equitable society. We know these scholarships will be an invaluable resource to HBCU students interested in careers in entertainment. We look forward to continuing this type of collaboration on future endeavors."
All American Homecoming follows Simone (Geffri Maya), a young tennis hopeful from Beverly Hills who is trying to fight her way back to great after some time away from the court, and Damon (Peyton Alex Smith), an elite baseball player from Chicago who is carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. After Simone's aunt Amara Patterson (Kelly Jenrette), a journalism teacher and activist, exposes a scandal that threatens to derail the school's beloved baseball program, new coach Marcus Turner (Cory Hardrict) is determined to bring a championship back to Bringston the honest way - with Damon's help. Damon will adjust to his new normal with fellow baseball player and childhood friend JR (Sylvester Powell) by his side. Meanwhile, as Simone struggles to find her footing, she will get a little guidance from Thea (Camille Hyde), the super-competitive queen bee of the Bringston tennis team, and Keisha (Netta Walker), the school's unofficial mayor, who will help Simone learn how to live her best life. As they contend with the high stakes of college sports, Simone and Damon will also navigate the highs, lows, and sexiness of unsupervised early adulthood at a prestigious HBCU.
All American: Homecoming is produced by Berlanti Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television and CBS Studios. Nkechi Okoro Carroll is executive producer and showrunner. Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, David Madden, and Robbie Rogers are also executive producers. The series airs Mondays at 9/8c on The CW.
About the NAACP
Founded in 1909 in response to the ongoing violence against Black people around the country, the NAACP is the largest and most pre-eminent civil rights organization in the nation. We have over 2,200 units and branches across the nation, along with well over 2M activists. Our mission is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons. In media attributions, please refer to us as the NAACP.
About Warner Bros. Television
One of the entertainment industry's most-respected providers of original programming since its founding in 1955, Warner Bros. Television produces original scripted dramas, comedies, and limited series for multiple platforms. As of February 2022, Warner Bros. Television is producing more than 60 scripted series for WarnerMedia's HBO Max, external on-demand/streaming services, premium/pay and basic cable channels, and the five broadcast networks.
|