Last week, Charles Barkley, inspired by the impact Spelman College had on his business partner’s daughter, decided to donate $1 million to the HBCU institution.
Jordyn Hudson, daughter of Barkley’s business partner John Hudson, so impressed Barkley that he decided to make the financial commitment to the institution.
“John has been a great mentor, a great friend and a great business partner,” said Barkley to al.com. “I was ready to do another HBCU and with his daughters doing great things at Spelman, so I told him, ‘Why not there?’”
This isn’t Barkley’s first HBCU addition to his philanthropic portfolio.
In 2016, he pledged $1 million each to Alabama A&M and Clark Atlanta University.
“This is a transformational gift to the institution and a true measure of Mr. Barkley’s commitment to advancing educational opportunities,” said Alabama A&M president Andrew Hugine Jr. at the time.
A year later, he pledged $1 million to Morehouse College and in 2020 he pledged $1 million each to Miles College and Tuskegee University.
Barkley, born and raised in Leeds, Alabama, always looks out for his home state.
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