African-American recording entrepreneur Sean “Diddy” Combs has donated a $1 million donation to Jackson State University.
The donation will take the shape of a large check for £794,000 ($1 million) in support of the university’s football team.
The presentation is set for Atlanta during the NCAA’s opening weekend of college football, coinciding with the game between Jackson State University and South Carolina State.
“We’ll have a special guest at this game that’s going to make a special contribution,” MEAC/SWAC Challenge Executive Director John Grant said. “[Diddy] will be on-site at this year’s Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge to present that £794,000 ($1 million) check to Jackson State football.”
“He will be there … will be there to enjoy the game,” he added. “He will be speaking with the team before, and you may see him run out with the team as an honorary captain for this year’s kickoff.”
During the 2022 BET Awards, Combs, 53, pledged to donate £794,000 ($1 million) to both his alma mater, Howard University, and Jackson State University. During the event, he got the Lifetime Achievement Award, and the announcement was made.
In his acceptance speech, Diddy stated: “Before I leave, I want to donate £794 ($1m) to Howard University.” He continued: “Also, I’m going to drop another million dollars on Deion Sanders and Jackson State because we should play for us.”
Diddy began his academic career at Howard University, but he left after his sophomore year to take an internship at Uptown Records. He was later awarded an honorary doctorate in 2014.
Notably, Diddy’s promise to Jackson State University was made while NFL legend Deion Sanders was the football program’s head coach.
Sanders, a Hall of Fame cornerback, led Jackson State’s football team from 2020 to 2022.
Although it was expected that Combs would postpone honoring his promise following Sanders’ departure from the university, he has done so. This is true even as Sanders transitions to a role with the Pac-12 Conference’s Colorado Buffaloes.
Dr. Elayne Hayes-Anthony, president of Jackson State University, formally confirmed Diddy’s gifts to the university.
On June 15, the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning board of trustees made the news during their monthly meeting.