Beyoncé’s BeyGOOD Foundation has awarded $25,000 to Camp HBCYouth, a seven-week summer program that introduces kindergarten through fifth-grade students to historically Black colleges and universities. Announced October 26, the grant will help the camp bring more children onto HBCU campuses, hire more HBCU students as staff, and keep costs within reach for families.
Key Takeaways
- BeyGOOD announced the $25,000 grant to Camp HBCYouth on October 26 through its social media channels.
- Camp HBCYouth was founded in 2021 by Spelman College graduate Reagan Fresnel and Morehouse College alumnus Brian Wright.
- BeyGOOD reports that 95% of campers show a strong interest in attending an HBCU.
- The camp’s partner campuses include Spelman College, Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University, and Tennessee State University.
- Early-bird enrollment for next summer opens November 9.
BeyGOOD Grant Targets The Start Of The HBCU Pipeline
Most conversations about HBCU enrollment begin in high school, with college fairs, campus tours, and application season. Camp HBCYouth starts years earlier. The program works with children as young as five, putting them on HBCU campuses before they have formed ideas about where college can take them.
BeyGOOD, the public charity founded by Houston native Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, said the grant recognizes an organization that inspires K–5 students to explore HBCU history and impact through education, wellness, arts, and sports. In its announcement, BeyGOOD reported that 95% of campers show a strong interest in attending an HBCU. For families, that figure points to what early exposure can do. A child who has walked an HBCU campus at age seven may see college as a real place rather than a distant idea.
Camp HBCYouth Turns HBCU Campuses Into Summer Classrooms
Reagan Fresnel, a Spelman College graduate, and Brian Wright, a Morehouse College alumnus, launched Camp HBCYouth in 2021. Fresnel serves as executive director and CEO. Over seven weeks each summer, the camp blends academics with culture, teaching HBCU history and traditions alongside sports and wellness activities.
The camp’s creative tracks include visual arts and design, music and performing arts, and innovation and entrepreneurship. Its partner campuses include Spelman College, Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University, and Tennessee State University. That gives young campers a chance to spend time at institutions that have shaped Black leadership in education, business, the arts, and public life.
The Grant Supports HBCU Students As Well As Children
The BeyGOOD grant helps two groups at once. Camp HBCYouth hires current HBCU students to work with its campers, so the funding also creates summer jobs for college students. Those students give younger children role models who are living the experience the camp introduces.
Fresnel thanked Beyoncé, Tina Knowles, and the BeyGOOD family in a post on Instagram. “Your grant helps us put more children on HBCU campuses, hire more HBCU students,” she wrote. She added that the support will keep camp within reach for the families who need it most. For a summer program, affordability decides who can attend, and grant funding lets the camp widen access without raising costs for parents.
BeyGOOD Extends A Long-Running HBCU Commitment
The Camp HBCYouth grant adds to BeyGOOD’s history of HBCU support. In 2018, following Beyoncé’s HBCU-inspired Coachella performance, BeyGOOD launched the Homecoming Scholars Award Program. It named Xavier University of Louisiana, Wilberforce University, Tuskegee University, and Bethune-Cookman University as the first recipient schools. BeyGOOD later announced a partnership with Google to extend the program to four more HBCUs.
Those earlier efforts supported students already in college. The new grant reaches children more than a decade before they apply. Together, the two efforts cover both ends of the HBCU pipeline, from the first campus visit in elementary school to scholarship support during college.
Houston Expansion And Enrollment Ahead
The grant arrives as Camp HBCYouth reportedly plans to expand to Texas Southern University in Houston, Beyoncé’s hometown. A Houston location would bring the program to a new city and a new partner campus.
Families interested in next summer’s program can watch for early-bird enrollment, which opens November 9. Enrollment details are available through Camp HBCYouth’s official website and social media channels.
FAQs
What Is Camp HBCYouth?
Camp HBCYouth is a seven-week summer program that introduces kindergarten through fifth-grade students to historically Black colleges and universities. It combines HBCU history and traditions with education, wellness, arts, and sports.
How Much Did BeyGOOD Give To Camp HBCYouth?
BeyGOOD awarded Camp HBCYouth a $25,000 grant, announced October 26, 2026. The funding will help the camp bring more children onto HBCU campuses, hire HBCU students, and keep the program affordable.
Who Founded Camp HBCYouth?
Camp HBCYouth was founded in 2021 by Reagan Fresnel, a Spelman College graduate who serves as executive director and CEO, and Brian Wright, a Morehouse College alumnus.
When Does Camp HBCYouth Enrollment Open?
Early-bird enrollment for the next summer session opens November 9. Families can find details through Camp HBCYouth’s official website and social media channels.
