January 18th 2024.
Ronda Stryker, a dedicated member of the Spelman College Board of Trustees, and her husband, William Johnston, have recently made a monumental contribution to the historically Black college. Their generous donation of $100 million is the largest in the school's history and is set to make a significant impact on the lives of future Spelman students.
According to reports from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, $75 million of the donation will go towards establishing endowed scholarships for upcoming students. This will provide much-needed financial assistance to support their academic pursuits. The remaining $25 million will be allocated towards the renovation of dormitories, the development of an academic program focused on democracy and public policy, and providing flexible funding for other pressing needs.
The news of this record-breaking donation was announced by Spelman College via Twitter, with CBS Mornings also sharing the exciting news. Stryker, who currently serves on the board of directors for Stryker Corp, a medical technologies company founded by her grandfather, and Johnston, who is the chairman of Greenleaf Trust, an investment banking firm, are both passionate about investing in the future of education.
The President of Spelman College, Dr. Helene Gayle, was moved to tears upon hearing about the donation. She described it as a "transformational" gift that will greatly benefit the school's 2,600 female students. Gayle also expressed her hope that this generous contribution will serve as a message to others that HBCUs (historically Black colleges and universities) are worthy of investment. She emphasized the remarkable return on investment that these institutions offer and the need for more support.
According to a 2021 report from the Century Foundation, private non-HBCU schools have an average endowment per full-time student that is seven times larger than that of private HBCUs. This highlights the ongoing issue of underfunding for HBCUs, which Gayle hopes will be addressed through this historic donation. She also noted that this is not the only significant contribution made to HBCUs this year, with the United Negro College Fund recently receiving a $100 million grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc. This funding will be shared among 36 HBCUs, including Spelman College.
With an average cost of approximately $29,000 per year, including tuition, fees, and living expenses, Spelman College is committed to providing quality education to its students. However, Gayle shared her aspiration to raise enough funds to meet the full financial needs of students, estimating that it would require $500 million.
This generous donation is particularly significant as it coincides with the 100th anniversary of the college's name change from Baptist Female Seminary to Spelman Seminary. The change was made in honor of Laura Spelman Rockefeller and her parents, Harvey Buel and Lucy Henry Spelman, who were prominent activists in the antislavery movement. This contribution serves as a testament to the impact of HBCUs and their rich history, as well as the importance of investing in their future.
In other related news, the oldest living Spelman alumna celebrated her 104th birthday, further highlighting the incredible legacy and impact of the college. With this record-breaking donation, Spelman College is set to continue making a significant difference in the lives of students and the community.
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