One of Alabama’s iconic figures, Charles Barkley, donated $1 million to Miles College on Wednesday.
Miles College is a historically black institution in Fairfield, Alabama, which is located about 10 miles west of downtown Birmingham. The school’s total enrollment is around 1,500 students.
According to the university, it is the single largest gift Miles College has ever received since the college was founded in 1898.
The Miles College donation is the fourth gift of $1 million given by Barkley to a historically black college or university (HBCU). The Auburn grad and NBA Hall-of-Famer has also given a million dollars each to Alabama A&M, Clark University and Morehouse College.
In public remarks, Barkley tied the donation to Miles’ hiring of Bobbie Knight as president last year.
Barkley said in a release, “I’ve gotten to know Bobbie Knight over the last year and it was something I really wanted to do. To have a female president is a big deal. I want to help Bobbie be as successful as she can be.”
“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 Knight.
Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: henry@new-yhn.local or on Twitter @HenryThornton95.
