Well-known rapper officially donated $5,000 to Grambling State University on Tuesday.
Wale, a musician from Washington, D.C., pledged to help the university’s football team with new uniforms and equipment during a Nov. 7 Homecoming concert. In the midst of his crowd-pleasing performance, he announced to students and fans he wanted to help the historically black university.
“I heard about the Wale pledge after the homecoming concert, and I heard that our students went wild when they heard that such a popular rapper was willing to help our university,” said Grambling State University President Frank G. Pogue. “We’re grateful to Wale that he made such a wonderful pledge and we’re excited that he made good on his pledge with a $5,000 donation. It will be put to good use.”
The donation did not come with a specific designation, so Grambling State’s administration will contact Wale and his management to determine, in writing, whether he wants to direct the money for a specific purpose. “We want to make sure that every donation goes to the place the donor designates,” said Debra Johnson, interim associate vice president for institutional advancement and director of alumni affairs. Wale’s donation comes after the football team received national media attention for refusing to attend practices and forfeiting the Jackson State University football game during JSU’s homecoming weekend.
The team argued that athletic facilities were inadequate and pushed for the return of their head football coach, Doug Williams, who was released on Sept. 11.
Grambling’s football has hit lowest point in school history, going 2-20 last year and this season. Johnson said Wale is the first celebrity to donate money to Grambling in many years.
The athletic department did receive 384 cases of Muscle Milk since the football team’s strike and the university is still accounting for a number of other donations. Wale sings “Bad,” “Lotus Flower Bomb” and “Ambition,” three of his popular recordings.
Some Grambling State students and athletes are excited for the donation and hope more people get involved.
“I would like to thank Wale on behalf of the students at Grambling State University,” said Jordan Harvey, the GSU student government association president. “Wale’s contribution speaks volumes about the character he possesses and the support he has for HBCUs and higher education.”