Award-winning actor Denzel Washington announced that the Denzel Washington Family Foundation has made the fourth $100,000 installment toward a $1 million commitment to Wiley College.
Essence reported, the acclaimed actor said, “Supporting the next generation of brilliant minds in the art of debate at Wiley College will open so many doors of opportunity for these students during college, career, and beyond.”
“We are honored to continue supporting the best and the brightest in the land and look forward to `The Great Debaters’ continuing to do what they do best: win.”
The donation will be used to recruit debate team members and help aid them financially with scholarships.
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The foundation made an official commitment in 2007 of $1 million, and since then, the Denzel Washington Family Foundation has donated $100,000 yearly over the last 10 years to revive the debate team, which had fallen apart after 1947.
Wiley College President Dr. Herman J. Felton, Jr. shared his gratitude for Washington’s generous donation to the institution.
The foundation and the university’s leader have had a 15-year-long relationship in support of this cause.
“Being a dominant force as home of The Great Debaters makes us a very attractive option for those skilled in debate, and this financial support further amplifies the benefits of becoming a Wiley debate scholar,” he said in a statement.
Founded in 1873, the historically Black college in Marshall, Texas, is home to “The Great Debaters–” a debate team made known after the 2007 film was released with the same name.
Washington directed the movie and starred as Professor Melvin B. Tolson, a leading debate coach who uprooted the team in the 1920s and led students to a decade-long winning streak in the 1930s.
The famous debate team is now formally called the Melvin B. Tolson/Denzel Washington Forensics Society.
