Paul Quinn College and Dillard University will benefit from two major donations, both announced Friday morning by each school.
Paul Quinn received an anonymous donation in the amount of $20 million, while Dillard received a $19 million-dollar Community Change grant from the Environmental Protection Agency.
The anonymous donation to Paul Quinn is slated to be a transformative gift that will reshape the university, according to President Michael Sorrell.
“We’re going to invest in places that will increase the viability, sustainability and appeal of the campus,” Sorrell told the Dallas News, stating that the campus will see physical and program upgrades, most notably developing the school’s banking and finance program.
“Banking in this region is an enormously attractive profession. They need to be in careers that will take them away from lives of scarcity.”
The donation will also fund an office of development, allowing Paul Quinn to continue its internal building efforts and philanthropic causes.
Located in South Dallas, Paul Quinn has 700 students, and to Sorrell, the large donation is proof that the school and its students are making an impact.
“It’s a gift to be their college president, but I’m not the only one who feels as if they are special,” he said. “There are a lot of people who feel they are special. Here’s one of those people who thought: You are special, $20 million times over.
Dillard University Awarded $19.94 Million Community Change Grant by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
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Dillard’s gift is a part of a concerted effort by the EPA to enhance community and sustainability efforts, most notably in New Orleans where the university is located.
The grant provided Dillard with the resources to create community resilience hubs, expand bike sharing and electric vehicle charger access, retrofit buildings to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, launch non-degree training programs in clean energy and climate resilience, and enhance community resilience in Orleans, St. Tammany, and Washington Parishes.
“The EPA’s selection of Dillard University’s Community Change Grant submission, in partnership with the United Way of Southeast Louisiana, is a testament to the value we place on collaboration with our array of stakeholders to transform our community,” Dillard interim president Dr. Monique Guillory said.
