(Photo: Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
DeKalb, IL — Basketball legend Charles Barkley is donating $1 million to Tuskegee University in Alabama, making it his fifth donation to a Historically Black College and University in the past five years.
Barkley, 57, grew up in Alabama and played college basketball at Auburn University. Barkley said he’s been to Tuskegee many times.
“We’ve got to find a way to help these kids compete. If they’ve got to learn virtually and don’t have a computer or internet access, how are they going to compete in the world? I don’t want them to be left behind,” Barkley said, according to HBCU Buzz.
Barkley didn’t specify what the $1 million should be put towards, but he hopes Tuskgee uses it for academic scholarships.
Last month, Barkley donated 200 computers to Leeds High School in Alabama and free wireless internet access to students for the year.
Alabama A&M, Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College and Miles College also received donations from Barkley within the last five years.