Spelman College alumna LaTanya Richardson and actor-husband Samuel L. Jackson donated $5M toward the renovation of the college’s John D. Rockefeller Fine Arts building, the largest alumnae donation in Spelman’s history, according to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution.
While the couple’s honorable donation was previously reported, the unknown amount was disclosed — until now.
“The love that both LaTanya and Sam continue to exhibit for Spelman since their time on stage decades ago is heartwarming,” Spelman President Dr. Mary Schmidt Campbell said in a news release.
“These living legends met and acted together on stage on our campus. Their dedication to their artistry will leave a legacy that will inspire students in the Atlanta University Center for years to come.”
After the renovations are complete, the historically Black women’s liberal arts college announced on Twitter that the “renovated theater, lobby, dressing rooms and supporting areas” will be named the LaTanya Richardson Jackson and Samuel L. Jackson Performing Arts Center.
In honor of their lifetime of achievements, Spelman College will name a renovated theater, lobby, dressing rooms and supporting areas the LaTanya Richardson Jackson and Samuel L. Jackson Performing Arts Center. https://t.co/KHTRV4flqO pic.twitter.com/Iq9BGeEC6N
— Spelman College (@SpelmanCollege) May 10, 2021
The institution has also received contributions from Bank of America and David Rockefeller Jr., donating $2M and $300K distributively. In addition, George Lucas and his wife Mellody Hobson contributed $10M through their Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation, AJC reported.
“We’re pleased to support Spelman College as it inspires, trains, and develops the next generation of leaders, from entrepreneurship to the arts, with a commitment that aligns with our focus on advancing racial equality and economic opportunity,” said Anne Finucane, vice chairman for Bank of America.
“We believe that when the power of the arts is combined with the longstanding traditions of Spelman, it yields excellence, and we’re honored to be a part of this important work.
At 57 years old, the renovations to Spelman’s Fine Arts building will occur in the spring of 2022, creating accessibility for the disabled, replacing the outdated theater, installing new dressing rooms and bathrooms, and riding asbestos due to poor ventilation in the building.
“Renovation talk has been going on since I arrived at Spelman over seven and a half years ago,” said Aku Kadogo of the Theater and Performance Department. “You don’t really believe it until you see it, so I’m excited that this is happening.”
In May, when the couple’s sizable donation to Spelman was first mentioned, Richardson Jackson said in a statement that she and her husband “are invested in the success of Spelman because Spelman first invested so much into us.”
“The Hollywood couple met while Richardson Jackson was at Spelman College and Jackson attended Morehouse College. They performed leading roles with the Morehouse Spelman Players on Spelman’s theatrical stage in the 1970s. Richardson Jackson served on the college’s board from 1998 to 2006.”
“We are grateful for their gift and that of the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation, Bank of America, and David Rockefeller Jr. to renovate the space where these beloved talents got their start. Pioneers and leaders in producing important stories, LaTanya and Sam’s excellence will forever resonate in the arts center named for them,” Campbell said.
“We’re all excited that renovations are happening, but we’re really at the beginning,” Kadogo said.
“Truthfully, it’s more of a hardship at the moment because we’re operating in temporary spaces. It’s an endurance test, but we’ve just got to be positive going forward.”
