Oprah Winfrey gave $13 million to Morehouse College on Monday, which will go towards the Oprah Winfrey Scholars Program that she created in 1989.
At that time, Winfrey donated $12 million to the school, which has already allowed 600 students to enroll. And with this latest amount, her overall donation equals $25 million, the largest endowment made in Morehouse’s history.
“Seeing you young Oprah Winfrey Scholars here today has moved me deeply,” Winfrey told 47 of her scholarship recipients. “I am so proud of you. I’m proud of everyone in attendance at this school who is seeking to know more clearly who you are, the value you hold and how you will share that value with the rest of the world.”
“I was really surprised to learn that it’s been 30 years since I made that $12 million donation to Morehouse,” she added. “So today I would like to add $13 million to that.”
The announcement was followed by cheers, as well as comments from those who were blown away by Winfrey’s generosity.
“More minority millionaires and billionaires should follow Oprah‘s lead to use their fame and fortune to support the community that has been there for them on their way to achieving the status that they now enjoy,” someone tweeted on Tuesday.
“Morehouse is doing something right!” a second person wrote. “Oprah’s endowment plus the gentleman who wiped out the students’ debt…what a tremendous blessing!”
The gentleman that person referenced is billionaire businessman Robert F. Smith, who in May offered to pay off the student debt for Morehouse’s entire 2019 graduating class.
And shortly after that donation, someone said that Winfrey should do the same, so she reminded that person of all she’s done for Morehouse.
“Should have paid off their student debt @oprah lol @morehouse1867,” one person tweeted after Smith’s announcement.
“I already paid 13m in scholarships,” Winfrey shot back. “Have put over 400 men thru @morehouse1867.”
And the money Winfrey recently gave to Morehouse, marks the second donation she gave towards higher education in less than a month.
Because on Sept. 28, at the 17th annual Maya Angelou Women Who Lead Luncheon in Charlotte, North Carolina, Winfrey matched the $1.15 million that was raised by the United Negro College Fund, so minorities in the state could pay for college.
Winfrey posted an Instagram message about her recent Morehouse visit and said the school presented her with a painting of herself while she was there.
“Spent a day marinating in black excellence with these gorgeous, promising, young men at @morehouse1867,” she wrote on Tuesday.
