Ray Charles Donates $1M to University

[Alexander]

Ray Charles Donates $1M to University

NEW ORLEANS - Ray Charles has donated $1 million to Dillard University for the creation of a program about black culture, the school announced Monday.

The donation will create an endowed faculty position and program devoted to the musical, culinary, artistic and linguistic contributions of black Americans, Dillard spokeswoman Maureen Larkins said.

Charles received an honorary degree in May from Dillard, a private, predominantly black school associated with the United Methodist Church and the United Church of Christ.

The 73-year-old singer donated the money in the name of the Robinson Foundation for Hearing Disorders, a laboratory he founded in 1987 for the treatment and research of hearing problems.

Edited November 12, 2003 by Alexander

[maren]

The 73-year-old singer donated the money in the name of the Robinson Foundation for Hearing Disorders, a laboratory he founded in 1987 for the treatment and research of hearing problems.

This strikes me as incredibly sweet, creative and positive! At first glance I thought, "of course, a musician wants to help people hear! I wonder if someone in his family or band went deaf?" There was a surprising time lag before I remembered, "oh, right, Ray Charles happens to be blind..." Guess he's putting his money toward what for him would constitute a REAL disability!