OUR STORY

Over 25 years ago, Hon. Jacqueline M. Lewis and her late husband, Robert Lewis, founded Washington Intern Student Housing (WISH) to address the growing need for intern housing in Washington, D.C. WISH has since become a leading provider of intern housing and residential life services for over 100 colleges and universities worldwide, accommodating thousands of interns.

Recognizing the value of experiential learning programs, Ms. Lewis established the HBCU National Center in 2021 to support historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and their students in overcoming financial challenges when accessing resources in Washington, D.C.

The HBCU National Center administers two grant programs. The Internship Support Grant provides $1,000 cash grants to advance and sustain HBCUs’ internship programs. Ms. Lewis has pledged $1 million for these grants through the Community Foundation of Sarasota County (CFSC), a public-benefit 501(c)(3) corporation. Tax-deductible donations can be made to CFSC to ensure the continued availability of Internship Support Grants.

The Intern Housing Grant program, part of the HBCU National Center, aims to eliminate housing cost barriers for promising students. It provides fully-paid accommodations with amenities on Capitol Hill. Since 2021, the National Center has offered free housing to 42 interns from 17 HBCUs, facilitating valuable internship experiences for those without the means to cover housing costs.