ATLANTA — Spelman College announced on Thursday morning that it had been given a $100 million donation, marking the largest charitable gift ever to an HBCU.
The donation was made by businesswoman and philanthropist Ronda Stryker and her husband William Johnston. Stryker is a Spelman College Trustee going back to 1997, and according to a release, "has worked for decades to empower women through higher education and advance opportunities for additional marginalized groups."
The school described the gift as specially marking 100 years since Spelman's official naming in 1924. The school was originally founded as Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary in 1881 and changed to Spelman Seminary in 1884. The name Spelman College came 40 years later.
“We are invigorated and inspired by this incredible act of generosity,” Dr. Helene Gayle, president of Spelman College, said in a statement. “This gift is a critical step in our school’s mission to eliminate financial barriers to starting and finishing a Spelman education. We can’t thank Ronda Stryker enough for her selflessness and support as both a trustee and friend. There’s no doubt that Spelman College is better because of her.”
Students were treated to a celebration on the upper level of the Manley Student Center. A photo booth, DJ, and T-shirts were on display to mark the occasion.
"First thing that went through my mind was definitely the financial support, the scholarships," Zoe Shepard said.
Shepard is a sophomore student on campus and a student trustee. She said the money will make an immediate impact and lay a foundation of support for students in the future.
"It's just an amazing feeling to know that that's going to be available for more people in the future. And even for the amazing people that I know today that their support for them as well," Shepard added.
Spelman announces $100 million donation, largest ever to an HBCU
The school's release said $75 million of the donation will go to endowed scholarships for future students, and the other $25 million will be used to "develop an academic focus on public policy and democracy, improve student housing, and provide flexible funding to meet critical strategic needs."
Lovetter Russell, an alumna of the college and chair of the Spelman College Board of Trustees, said that students have been very vocal about housing needs, and the donation will go a long way in addressing those concerns.
"A lot of our dorms are old. And because of that, air conditioning is an issue. So, we have two dorms specifically that we will start with. And that got the second largest applause today behind the fact that there was a $100 million gift," she said.
The donation kicks off the #100for100Spelman campaign.