Oprah Winfrey donates $13 million to Morehouse College

Oprah in her visit to the historically all men black college for the 30th anniversary of the Oprah Winfrey Scholars Program donated $13 million to the school as a contribution to her scholarship programme. The donation marks the largest endowment ever to Morehouse College located in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

In her address, Oprah Winfrey says: “Seeing you young Oprah Winfrey scholars here today has moved me deeply. I am so proud of you, I’m proud of everybody in attendance at this school who is seeking to know more clearly who you are, the value you hold and how you will share that value with the rest of the world. I was really surprised to learn that it has been 30 years since I’ve made that $12 million donation to Morehouse, and so today I would like to add $13 million to that.”

In reaction, Morehouse President David A. Thomas says: “I‘m grateful to Oprah Winfrey for her generosity. I am also feeling hopeful for Morehouse and what it has garnered in terms of philanthropic support with gifts like Oprah’s and Robert Smith’s. I am hopeful that this will also get others to step up with their support of Morehouse, but even more broadly, historically black colleges and universities.”

According to a Wikipedia entry, founded in 1867 William Jefferson White, Morehouse College, Atlanta is one of the few remaining traditional men’s liberal arts colleges in the United States. The school boasts of over 2,000 students. It is one of two historically black colleges in the US to produce Rhodes Scholars. Morehouse College is also the alma mater of several black American civil right leaders including Martin Luther King Jr.