Basketball legend, Charles Barkley donates $1 million to HBCU, Miles College

On Wednesday, January 6, 2020 for the first time in Miles College’s 122 Years, we received the single largest gift by a donor of US$1 million.

Charles Barkley, former NBA Hall of Fame athlete and philanthropist, was the donor of this large historic gift made under the helm of President Bobbie Knight, Interim President of Miles College and first woman in history to lead the historic institution. In addition to his generous gift to the college, Mr. Barkley has also given of himself and time engaging students on Miles College campus.

Mr. Barkley has a history of philanthropic giving and support for historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). His leadership gift to Miles will help establish the level of key gifts from others in the philanthropic community.

“It’s great that Mr. Barkley thinks enough of Miles College to donate a million dollars. This gift lays the foundation to launch our US$100 million dollar comprehensive campaign,” said President Bobbie Knight, Interim President of Miles College.

“I’ve gotten to know Bobbie Knight over the last year and it was something I really wanted to do,” said Charles Barkley, NBA Hall of Fame athlete and philanthropist. “To have a female president is a big deal. I want to help Bobbie be as successful as she can be.”

In 2020-2021, he plans to do economic development around the Birmingham and Leeds Area, in his hometown. Barkley is a majority owner of Redmont Distillary.

This is the 4th time Barkley has donated to an HBCU. He has previously pledged US$1 million each to Alabama A&M, Clark Atlanta University and Morehouse College.

About Miles College: 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 College, 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.

Source: Miles College