IKEA U.S. Sponsors Inspirational HBCU Tour Across The East Coast

This initiative aims to empower students from HBCUs by providing financial literacy resources and tools to help them secure their financial futures.

Event Details:
Date: February 22, 2024
Location: IKEA Atlanta
Time: 4:30 pm – 7 pm

The event will feature informative workshops, fun games and activities, as well as a gift card giveaway to the first 100 college students.

Empowering futures: IKEA U.S. sponsors an inspirational HBCU tour across the east coast

Canton, Michigan (February 19, 2024) – IKEA U.S. is excited to announce the “Secure the Bag” Historically Black College and University (HBCU) tour in partnership with Money Matters for Youth, a Detroit-based financial literacy tour organization. This impactful tour kicks off at IKEA in Canton, Michigan on February 19th, and journeys to seven HBCUs from Ohio to Atlanta. A group of 21 junior and senior high school students will stop at Central State University, Bowie State University, Morgan State University, Howard University, Spelman College, Morehouse College, and Clark Atlanta University. Along the ride, the students will also make stops at local IKEA stores (IKEA West Chester, IKEA Baltimore, IKEA College Park, and IKEA Atlanta) for motivating chats with community partners, IKEA meals, fun giveaways, and learning how to make the most of their future dorm room spaces with IKEA designers.

“As we launch this HBCU tour, I am excited about our role in empowering our young people. The IKEA mission is clear, to create a better everyday life and that happens when we invest in the dreams of the next generation,” said Kevin Matthews, Country Area Marketing Manager at IKEA U.S. “Together, we are shaping an inclusive future filled with possibilities.”

As part of the tour, IKEA Atlanta will be hosting a College Pride Night on February 22. Attendees can expect informative workshops, fun games and activities, as well as a gift card giveaway to the first 100 college students! All prospective, current, and graduated college students are encouraged to attend.

Money Matters for Youth is based in Detroit and is a pioneering financial literacy program empowering children aged 8 to 18 with essential economic and fiscal skills. The tour will provide real-world application, focusing on pivotal financial concepts such as economic circulation, asset management, and fiscal responsibility. In recognition of Black History Month, the students will learn about the history of HBCUs and Black Wall Street.

At IKEA U.S., we believe that together with our social justice partners, co-workers, customers and communities, we can work to make meaningful and measurable change. IKEA U.S. has donated more than $3 million to support organizations that are working in support of social justice, economic empowerment and education initiatives for Black communities since 2019. In 2022, we provided grants through the IKEA U.S. Community Foundation to 18 nonprofit organizations across the country that are working to support their local Black communities.

To learn more about getting ready for college with IKEA and our college furnishing solutions visit IKEA.com/us. Follow the Money Matters for Youth HBCU tour on social media with the following hashtags: #IKEAreadyforcollege, #HBCUtour, and #MM4Y