Charles Barkley to donate $1 million to Atlanta’s Spelman College

Now that’s how you use your money for good!

Charles Barkley announced he will donate one million dollars to Spelman college. Barkley’s motivation for the donation is coming from a place near and dear to his heart – he chose the Historically Black College/University (HBCU) after having a firsthand view of the impact the school is having on his business partner and friend’s daughter, John Hudson. John’s daughter, Jordyn will serve as class president when she enters her sophomore year this fall. “John has been a great mentor, a great friend and a great business partner,” Barkley said. “I was ready to do another HBCU, and with his daughter doing great things at Spelman, I told him, ‘Why not there?’”

This isn’t the first time the NBA Hall of Famer has made a significant donation to an HBCU. In 2016, he pledged one million dollars to both Clark Atlanta University and Alabama A&M. The next year, he made the same pledge to Morehouse College, another institution right here in Atlanta. Not too long after that, in 2020, Barkley pledged two more one-million-dollar pledges, to both Tuskegee University and Miles College in Birmingham. That’s not all! Last summer, he gifted $1,000 to each employee at his high school alma mater, Leeds High School in Alabama. Barkley didn’t forget about those sitting in the classroom – he arranged for students to secure 200 computers and free Internet service for a year.

“People are aware of Charles from TNT and his NBA stardom, but I don’t think people are aware of how focused he is on philanthropy and entrepreneurism,” John Hudson said. “He knows how committed Jordyn is to Spelman and has seen how it has transformed her worldview. “What can you say about someone who is so giving and charitable with their resources with all they’ve accomplished?”

It’s always so nice to see people giving back. Way to go Barkely!