Charles Barkley solidified his status as a hometown hero after giving back to his high school alma mater.
The former NBA player donated $1,000 to each of the employees of Leeds City Schools in Alabama, according to the district’s Facebook page.
“Through the years, the Leeds School System has been fortunate to have the support of its biggest fan and most famous graduate, Charles Barkley, Class of 1981,” the school district wrote in a post. “Over the past three decades, Charles has quietly and without any attention drawn to himself, provided over $3million in scholarships to Leeds graduates, funds that have helped hundreds of students attend college.”
“We are humbled and wish to express our sincere gratitude to Charles Barkley for providing a $1,000 gift to each and every Leeds City Schools employee for going the extra mile this school year,” the post continued.
According to state information, the Leeds school district has approximately 226 employees, rendering Barkley’s total donation to over $200,000.
The school district wrote that its employees have persevered through the pandemic and maintaining safety protocols but that staff "can now see the light at the end of the tunnel."
The Hall of Famer is no stranger to generous monetary gifts, as he’s helped support HBCUs and other colleges in the past, including his collegiate alma mater, Auburn University, where he donated $1 million in 2015.
One year later, Barkley donated $2 million to two historically Black colleges, Alabama A&M and Clark Atlanta University, giving $1 million to each, as Blavity previously reported.
“This is a transformational gift to the institution and a true measure of Mr. Barkley’s commitment to advancing educational opportunities,” Alabama A&M president Andrew Hugine Jr. said,” according to The Undefeated.
“This gift reflects Charles Barkley’s tremendous heart and his desire to make a significant, positive and lasting difference in the lives of others,” Clark Atlanta President Ronald A. Johnson said.
From 2016 to 2020, the Inside The NBA analyst also contributed donations to Morehouse College, Tuskegee University and Miles College in Fairfield, Alabama.
"This is my fourth donation to HBCUs," Barkley told CNN last year after his donation to Miles College.
The former basketball player also shared that his biggest regret in life was that he "didn't take education more serious" when he was younger.
Now, he’s on a mission to encourage students to pursue their dreams in the face of rising tuition costs, which has increased more than 25% in the last 10 years, according to 2018 data from The College Board, CNBC reports.
"I just think what it's costing these kids to go to college today is a travesty in this country, and I know historically black colleges are struggling. I wanted to do something to help them and I'm going to continue to help them," Barkley added.
In March, the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences at Auburn University announced the inception of the Charles Barkley Foundation Fellowship, which aims to help HBCU alumni pursue their graduate studies at the school and promote diversity.
“This group’s [Auburn University Diversity and Inclusion Team] mission is to consolidate our thoughts and develop and identify activities to promote diversity and inclusion within the school,” Janaki Alavalapati, dean of the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, said. “Charles Barkley’s recent gift, which promotes the inclusion of students who have graduated from HBCUs, goes hand in hand with our ongoing efforts and will be a tremendous asset to this endeavor.”
