Diddy has fulfilled a pledge to Howard University that he initially made at the 2022 BET Awards, ultimately donating $1 million to the famed HBCU.
The Hilltop, which is Howard’s official newspaper, has confirmed that the Bad Boy executive finally fulfilled the pledge as of Friday (October 20).
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“Mr. Combs has fully honored every public pledge of support he has made to Howard University. This includes both public pledges to donate to Howard University, each for $1 million,” said Howard University’s Development and Alumni Relations Senior Vice President David P. Bennett, who also confirmed that Diddy also carried out other “philanthropic efforts” on the University’s behalf.
“In addition to his public pledges, Mr. Combs has also supported Howard University and our students in many private ways. This includes through contributions, internships and hiring many Howard alumni at Combs Global,” he said.
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As Bennett’s statement indicates, the 2022 pledge isn’t the first time that Diddy has donated to Howard University.
Back in 2016, during a Bad Boy Reunion Tour stop in Washington, D.C. at the Verizon Center, Diddy donated $1 million to the School of Business at Howard University to kickstart The Sean Combs Scholarship Fund.
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The contribution came just ahead of the historically Black school’s 150th anniversary in March 2017.
The scholarships started in fall 2017 for undergraduate Business majors who maintain a 3.0 GPA and who need help paying for the program.
Combs, who attended the university for two years in the ’90s, left before he completed his degree, but received an honorary doctorate from the school in 2014.
“I was blessed to receive a great education from Howard University – one of the best schools in the world – and it helped to fuel my success in business and life,” Combs said in a statement at the time. “This scholarship will make it possible for the next generation of leaders to pursue their dreams and achieve greatness. When I delivered the commencement address at Howard, I asked the students, ‘Do you know how powerful you are?’ I know that Howard students are intelligent, talented, passionate, and their hard work will shape the future.”
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Howard University President Wayne Frederick also released a statement at the time, saying, “[T]he scholarship fund that Mr. Combs has established at Howard will help provide life-altering opportunities for our students, particularly at a time when many come to Howard struggling to meet ever-increasing financial needs. The University is grateful for Mr. Combs’ ongoing efforts to open doors for talented, hard-working individuals and improve their chances of navigating the way to personal and professional fulfillment.”
