On court, Coco Gauff is preparing for her third-round match against Hailey Baptiste at the Australian Open, following her two straight-set victories over Kamilla Rakhimova (6-2,6-3) and Olga Danilović (6-2, 6-2). But off of it, the American recently made a $150,000 donation to support scholarships for Black-American students and tennis players at HBCUs. And that’s not all.

Last year, Gauff made a $100,000 contribution to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). And recently, at a press conference, she opened up about her latest donation, saying, “Yeah, it’s super important for me. I think if I didn’t play tennis, I would have loved to attend the HBCU.”

Speaking about her deep-rooted connection, she said, “I have family members on both sides. Both my grandmothers went to HBCUs. Uncle and aunt went to HBCU and been growing up just attending it, going to HBCU classic games and things like that. So, yeah, I think for me, it was just important to support that cause, especially in tennis.”

This isn’t the only reason behind her donation to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

“I feel like HBCU tennis a lot of times doesn’t get the funding that they need. So for me, I would just always try to uplift, like I said in the previous question, more marginalized communities and, you know, put things support where I can,” said Gauff, who has long been outspoken on matters of social justice and racial inequality.

“And so, yeah, I hope that it goes to students who really need it. And well, I will go to students who need it. And yeah, I’m happy that I was able to do this for the second year in a row,” she said.

With such donations, she is directly helping out students who want to become professional tennis players in their careers. UNCF confirmed that the Coco Gauff Scholarship Program has awarded scholarships to ten aspiring student-athletes who attended Alabama A&M, Albany State, Clark Atlanta, Howard, Livingstone, and Tuskegee.

UNCF’s executive vice president and chief development officer Maurice E. Jenkins, Jr. praised Gauff’s efforts, saying, “We are immensely grateful to Coco Gauff for her generosity and ongoing commitment to our mission. As a role model both on and off the court, Gauff’s philanthropic efforts continue to inspire young people across the nation.” So, just how influential has the organization been over the years of its establishment?

Coco Gauff is putting her money into the right cause

Since its founding in 1944 to address profound funding inequities, the UNCF has been the United States’ largest and most vital scholarship organization supporting students at HBCUs. And their motto is quite simple, which is “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”

UNCF provides critical financial aid to thousands of students annually, ensuring access to the unique educational environment of America’s 107 HBCUs. These institutions were established primarily to serve African American students, becoming the cornerstones of Black higher education, producing nearly 20% of all African American college graduates. And with partners like Coco Gauff, they are making dreams come true for many students.

Following the American tennis star’s previous donation, she talked about the students, saying, “As a young Black athlete, I understand how impactful it is to see people who look like me thriving in both sports and education. I want to help the next generation of student-athletes continue pursuing their passion for tennis while reaching their academic goals.”

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“My hope is that this scholarship gives more young Black players the confidence to chase their dreams, knowing they have a strong community behind them and a bright future ahead.”

So, as Coco Gauff progresses towards her goal to win a third Grand Slam, she has already won a lot of hearts with her philanthropy.