Raise a glass for Education

Join Uncle Nearest to help raise $1.4 Million in support of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The goal of the Uncle Nearest HBCU Old Fashioned Challenge is to provide one full tuition scholarship to each accredited HBCU in the US. From January 15, 2024 (in honor of MLK Jr. Day) through June 19, 2024 (in honor of Juneteenth), join the challenge by going to your favorite bar, restaurant, or liquor store and drink for a good cause!

How can you support?

• For every Uncle Nearest Old Fashioned you order at a participating account, the brand will donate $1.
• For every bottle of Uncle Nearest you buy at a participating retail account, the brand will donate $1.
• For every Uncle Nearest Old Fashioned Cocktail Kit you buy through the Uncle Nearest website or directly on Reservebar.com, the brand will donate $1. Purchases made through ReserveBar.com will include an additional $2 donation from ReserveBar.
• Submit a photo of your Uncle Nearest Old Fashioned cocktail via the HBCU Challenge website (oldfashionedcocktail.com), Uncle Nearest will donate $1

The Why

As reported by CBS, Forbes, Black Enterprise, The Century Foundation, Parents Magazine, NPR, as well as dozens of other media outlets, HBCUs have been grossly underfunded by at least $12.8 billion over the past 30 years. Despite this challenge, HBCUs have played a pivotal role in driving degree attainment and economic mobility, particularly for students from low-income backgrounds. These institutions have a remarkable track record of breaking down barriers to degree completion and postgraduate success. In fact, their graduates account for 50% of Black doctors and Black attorneys, 40% of Black engineers and Black members of Congress, and an astounding 80% of Black judges. And let us not forget, HBCUs are not exclusively for the Black community. In addition to the impressive number of Black professionals they produce, 25% of graduates come from racial backgrounds outside the Black community.

Uncle Nearest, along with your help, will work to shine a light on this disparity in funding. But as with everything they do, they will not just talk about it, they will put their money where their mouth is, and pledge $1 for every bottle of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey from a participating retailer and $1 for every Uncle Nearest Old Fashioned cocktail purchased at a participating bar or restaurant across the country.

We invite you to join this year’s challenge and help Uncle Nearest create opportunities for deserving students across the country. Together, we will raise the bar and make a difference.

To find participating location near you or share a photo of your Uncle Nearest Old Fashioned, click here.