What began as a movement to break barriers in business leadership has grown into a transformative force for African American students pursuing higher education. RAMM was founded by visionary leaders dedicated to expanding opportunity and representation in business and education, including Floyd Jones (Atwood Industries), Carl Towns and Nan Morgan Mynatt (Ingersoll), Delbert Denny, Paul Foster, Hank Lett, Fred Money, Gene Pulliam (Chrysler Corporation), Jim Hall (IBM), Harry Garnett (National Can), Ron Shelby (Sundstrand), Joan Brown (U.S. Post Office), and Don Riley (Warner Lambert). Their commitment laid the groundwork for an organization that continues to change lives today.

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For more than four decades, RAMM has shaped the futures of young scholars by providing financial assistance, mentorship, and career development. The annual RAMM Scholars Banquet has become the community’s largest scholarship fundraiser, drawing up to 500 attendees to celebrate Rockford’s most promising students. Through the sustained support of the Rockford community, RAMM has awarded more than 1.25 million in scholarships, ensuring that talented students have access to higher education and the resources needed to succeed.

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RAMM remains steadfast in its mission to empower the next generation of leaders through education, mentorship, and community engagement, reinforcing the belief that opportunity expands when we invest in our future.