COLUMBIA, S.C. — Allen University received a donation of $1 million from the Seventh Episcopal District of the AME Church. The money, they say, will be used for scholarships and to supply students with everything they need to be successful.
“We’re happy that we are part of the community that's making it possible for those who may be first time students in higher education to receive that kind of assistance,” Bishop James Davis with the Seventh Episcopal District, said.
Bishop James says he hopes the district's donation of $1 million will help pave the futures of students at Allen University.
"Allen University is more than just a college. It is part of the legacy that has been given through many generations and the reason today is so important is because it shows a sign of the willingness on the part of the people who are a part of this generation to accept that legacy and say that we will be the providers for the next generation,” he said.
$400,000 of the donation will be used to fund scholarships for both undergraduate and graduate students, the remaining amount will go towards supplying students with classroom essentials.
“It’s so important, really, to relieve them of some of the angst regarding paying, and to that extent, they are better able to concentrate on the work they're here to do,” Allen University President, Ernest McNealy, said.
McNealy says this donation will benefit students in many ways.
“A telemedicine policy, that they don't have to pay for textbooks, electronic textbooks that they don't have to pay for. We provide an iMac for each student and we provide telephone access to mental health counseling, and so all of these things, again, are quite costly, and the ability to keep them is going to have a tremendous impact on students,” he said.
The scholarship fund will be based on merit and need.
“We're hoping that our annual gift of a million dollars, and the $400,000 particularly, will say to students, we're trying to keep you from having to have another burden once you come out of college,” Bishop Davis said.
Some of the donations from the Seventh District included the Women’s Missionary Society, Sons of Allen and the Young Peoples Division.