Grant Hills philanthropic spirit and his long track record of placing his energies towards socially uplifting endeavors continue.
The totality of Hill’s greatness on and off the court celebrated during his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame last week.
As a former student of the prestigious and pricey Duke University, Hill knows that college costs are always rising and presenting financial problems, particularly for inner-city kids and people of color. Continuing in his socially conscious path, Hill has collaborated with the Atlanta Hawks to aid cash-strapped HBCU students with the tuition needed to remain in school and pursue their dreams.
Left of Black on Twitter
Hall of famer @realgranthill33 collaborates with Atlanta Hawks to donate 33 scholarships to Morehouse, Spelman and Clark Atlanta https://t.co/1PEix8LbNc
The 33 scholarships being donated breaks down to 11 financial aid packages for each school. AUC stands for Atlanta University Center. It consists of Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, the Interdenominational Theological Center, and Morris Brown College. Most of the time when people talk about the AUC they are only referring to Spelman, Clark, and Morehouse. It is the largest consortium of HBCUs in the United States.
Via Undefeated, Steve Koonin, CEO of the Hawks, announced the gifts.
The cost of attendance at each school is only slightly lower than the national average. Students living on campus pay just over $38,000 to attend Clark Atlanta. For Spelman students, the cost is nearly $43,000. Morehouse students pay slightly less.
Spelman president Mary Schmidt Campbell is grateful for the money and said it supports Spelmans long-term educational goals.
Grant Hills passion for the arts and education perfectly aligns with Spelmans mission to educate the whole student through a dynamic liberal arts experience, said Campbell. We appreciate the Atlanta Hawks recognizing his athletic excellence and his commitment to HBCUs by supporting students at Spelman, Morehouse and Clark Atlanta.
GREEK YARD on Twitter
The incoming freshmen’s from Spelman, Morehouse, and Clark Atlanta. https://t.co/vC8GeAWbYP
Hill, who has said he values the legacy of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), sought to develop a strong relationship with the AUC once he became a co-owner of the Hawks in 2015. The Hawks have a mission to expose students to career opportunities in sports, and the AUC has taken advantage of it.
Hill has donated millions of dollars to educational departments at his alma mater Duke University, hes created awards and scholarship programs for student-athletes who also serve their communities. His overall expanding business enterprise he’s building along with his wife, award-winning soul singer Tamia, is embedded in a culture of spreading the wealth and helping less fortunate people have a shot to rise out of their circumstances.
Sporting News on Twitter
Grant Hill’s $1.25 million donation to Duke won’t just fund Blue Devils athletics. https://t.co/VmKrDEkpLa
It is an honor and privilege to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, perhaps the greatest accomplishment of my life, Hill told The Undefeated. Yet, learning that the Atlanta Hawks have created scholarships in my name for 33 students matriculating at the AUC member institutions is the most humbling gift and the highest distinction that I can receive.
