Our Mission

Our mission is to provide financial support to African American students seeking post-secondary educational opportunities enabling them to gain both knowledge and skills which will enable them to achieve their professional goals and allow them to become productive leaders and successful business men and women in their communities.​

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Our Goals

The goals of the William C. & Susan A. DeLaney Scholarship are to provide financial assistance to African American students in the Allegheny county of Pennsylvania who demonstrate a 2.5 GPA as a high school senior.

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Who We Are

William Claude DeLaney was an African American pioneer in the Automobile Industry in the Pittsburgh Area. He started his business on the Northside of Pittsburgh after returning home from WWII and unable to find a job that would allow him to grow and utilize his automotive skills. He realized the only way to accomplish his dreams as a businessman was to become an entrepreneur and own his own business. He rented space on Sandusky Street and began washing cars. The President of Northside Deposit Bank believed in his vision enough and helped him to buy a Renault car dealership in the Shaler Township area off Saxonburg & Route 8. In addition to selling Renaults, he sold various used cars. This was during the seventies and it was unheard of Black men owning their own businesses particularly in the automobile industry. As a result of his tenacity and hard work ethics, younger Black men and women looked up to him as a trailblazer and business role model realizing that their business dreams could come true.

 

Susan A. DeLaney, widow of William C. DeLaney, launched this scholarship to honor her husband's legacy and passion for entrepreneurship. Mrs. DeLaney's career as a Pittsburgh Public Schools Special Educator, Gateway School District Substitute teacher, Gateway District School Board Director, Monroeville Rotary member, and Forbes Hospital Parent and Family Advisory Council spans over 40 years. Her passion for educating our future generations coupled with her late husband's commitment to young people, has inspired her to help other deserving African American students fulfill their educational goals. 

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How You Can Help

You can help by becoming a yearly contributing sponsor or by making a donation. Make a tax-deductible gift now and support students and our future leaders!

 

Give to the William C. & Susan A. DeLaney Scholarship Fund via mail:

 

William C. & Susan A. DeLaney Scholarship Fund

PO Box 2656

Henderson, NC 27536

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The Delaney Scholarship Fund would like to acknowledge and thank the Highmark Blue Shield of Allegheny Health Network for their generous donation to the DeLaney Scholarship Fund.  We appreciate their organization with its commitment for providing affordable health care services to the community and look forward to partnering with them in the future.