January 13, 2020
Charles Barkley Donates $1 Million to HBCU Miles College
Former NBA player and current NBA commentator Charles Barkley made a $1 million donation to Birmingham, Alabama’s Miles College.
The NBA great made the single largest gift by a donor in the 122-year history of the school’s existence with his donation.
Barkley, an NBA Hall of Fame athlete and philanthropist, gave the generous gift under the leadership of current President Bobbie Knight. She is presently the Interim President of Miles College and the first woman in history to lead this particular historically black college and university (HBCU). In addition to donating his money to the college, Barkley has also dedicated time to engage with the students on campus.
“It’s great that Mr. Barkley thinks enough of Miles College to donate a million dollars. This gift lays the foundation to launch our $100 million dollar comprehensive campaign,” said President Bobbie Knight in a written statement.
“I’ve gotten to know Bobbie Knight over the last year and it was something I really wanted to do,” chimes in Charles Barkley. “To have a female president is a big deal. I want to help Bobbie be as successful as she can be.”
Based on Barkley‘s history of philanthropic giving and support for HBCU’s, his latest contribution to Miles College may help in getting others to also help the college obtain the level of key gifts from others in the philanthropic community.
In the 2020-2021 academic school year, he plans to do economic development around the Birmingham and Leeds Area, in his hometown. Barkley is a majority owner of Redmont Distillery.
Miles College, founded in 1898, is a premier liberal arts institution located in metropolitan Birmingham within the corporate limits of the City of Fairfield. Miles, which is fully accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and accredited by Commission on Colleges for the awarding of Baccalaureate Degrees, is the only four-year institution in historic Birmingham, Alabama, designated as a member of historically black colleges and universities (HBCU).