Former NBA player George Lynch raising money for HBCU student-athletes

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George Lynch, former NBA player, and current head coach of the Clark Atlanta University men’s basketball team, aims to support student-athletes at HBCU’s and universities with access to laptop computers.

The coronavirus pandemic continues to impact populations across the globe. College students are among those greatly impacted by the outbreak of COVID-19. As the virus spread, nearly all campuses were forced to close, cancel events such as sports and commencement ceremonies, and send the students home. Lynch recognized that many students sent home to complete their education remotely would no longer have access to resources in need.

READ MORE: Graduation season falls victim to coronavirus pandemic

Through his non-profit organization HBCU Heroes, Lynch is raising funds to provide HBCU student-athletes forced into digital learning by the coronavirus with laptop computers. The HBCU student-athletes affected may not have the proper tools to engage in remote learning yet are oftentimes the supporting structure of campus life.

“If you’ve ever been to an HBCU homecoming, half-time show, the Battle of The Bands or HBCU Classic…we don’t have to tell you how important athletes are to the sustainability of HBCUs” states the GoFundMe for the fundraising campaign.

Lynch attended the University of North Carolina, not an HBCU.  His experience there contrasts what he sees now coaching at CAU, an HBCU nestled in Atlanta, GA near both Spelman and Morehouse colleges.

READ MORE: How HBCUs are handling the coronavirus pandemic

“I played at North Carolina, and what I have experienced at the small black colleges is totally different from what it was like at UNC,” said Lynch according to Forbes.

“Many HBCU student-athletes were using school resources, such as computer labs or the library to complete their assignments. Now they have to find their own. Some are even going back to homes where there isn’t WiFi to support their school work. Something has to be done to assist them.”

Lynch hopes to provide thousands of computers across the country with the help of HBCU alumni, professional athletes, organizations, philanthropists, and others who may have the funds to give.

“We are asking for HBCU alumni, philanthropists, professional athletes, corporations, organizations, etc. to donate to HBCU Heroes so we can purchase and provide as many laptops as possible to support these students. We are on a mission to donate 6,000 computers nationwide,” said Lynch.

Sponsors can donate to the cause on the official GoFundMe and students in need can request a laptop computer on the official HCBUHero website here.