Basketball Hall of Famer and sports analyst, Charles Barkley is continuing his streak of giving back to HBCUs, this time donating $1 million dollars each to Bethune-Cookman University and Jackson State University.
The donations to Bethune Cookman (B-CU) and Jackson State University (JSU) are the seventh and eighth significant donations he has made to Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Since 2016, Barkley has given $1 million to Alabama A&M University, Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Miles College, Tuskegee University, and Spelman College.
B-CU’s athletic director and head men’s basketball coach, Reggie Theus played in the NBA at the same time as Barkley and preceded him as a commentator on TNT’s ‘Inside the NBA.’
Theus told the Daytona Beach News-Journal that Barkley’s donation came as a surprise to him.
“I’m just so incredibly humbled by what he’s done. It’s just a big thing. He’s my NBA brother. It’s a small fraternity,” Theus said. “I was actually surprised. I didn’t know this was coming.”
According to Theus, B-CU hasn’t yet determined how the funds will be used.
“We’ll figure those things out,” Theus said. “These kids deserve it. … This is just going to help us move in the direction of building a championship culture, which extends beyond athletics to academics. It’s on and off the floor or the field.”
Charles Barkley recognizes his blessings and says he wants to give back.
He recently signed a 10-year deal with TNT which is expected to be worth more than $100 million.
“I’m just so lucky and blessed beyond anything I can imagine,” Barkley told AL.com. “All this [expletive] money is crazy. I’m gonna use the rest of my life to bless as many people as I possibly can.”
