Vanessa Williams Scholarship Achieves Endowment Level

The singer donated Celebrity Name That Tune winnings to the OTHC Fund.

The Our Time Has Come Scholarship Fund was recognized on national television in February when Vanessa Williams ’85 appeared on Celebrity Name that Tune.

On Feb. 7, Williams and partner Wendi McClendon-Covey (the Divas) bested opponents Howie Dorough and Drew Lachey (the Boybands) to earn winnings for charity.

The recipient of Williams’ $71,101.13 winnings: The Our Time Has Come Vanessa Williams Endowed Scholarship Fund.

“The purpose of my scholarship fund is to lend financial aid to students studying musical theater as a BFA major at Syracuse University, so I was thrilled to contribute to my winnings from Name That Tune,” says Williams. “I was lucky enough to have parents who were able to pay for my education, as two educators themselves. For those students of color who don’t have the same financial support, this fund helps make their training possible.”

In 2019, Williams performed a benefit concert at the Schomberg Center in New York City to raise funds to support the Our Time Has Come Scholarship Fund and launch the scholarship in her name.

Williams’ gift brings her scholarship to the endowment level, which will begin paying out scholarships in fall 2025.