By Tierra Stone
AFRO Intern
tierrastone@afro.com
Livingstone College is receiving a $10 million donation, the school’s president, Dr. Anthony Davis, recently announced during a conference of the AME Zion Church. The news came during a July 22 call from a sponsor who chooses to remain anonymous, he said. The same donor has given a total of seven million in donations in the past several months, bringing the current total to $17 million.
Livingstone College is a private, Christian and historically Black institution in Salisbury, N.C. which has obtained a series of donations primarily focused on amplifying student life and campus establishments.
During the homecoming celebration of the Fall 2023 semester, the college received its very first contribution from the anonymous donor. The money came at an integral moment for the school, and will help fund campus restoration and educational programs. The second donation, showcased in February during the college’s 145th Founders Day event, also helped to strengthen the school’s capacity to train up the next generation of educated professionals.
Many of the contributions are solely used toward revamping the school and obtaining new materials to support the student body. Additionally, Livingstone has strived to use these funds to increase employment opportunities and amplify student enrollment, with the understanding that enhancing present-day facilities can attract future students and cultivate a beneficial learning environment.
Livingstone College is currently in the process of a $30 million regeneration project that has gone through many stages. The first stage has already begun with the creation of new dormitories and a new cafeteria. Both of these developments are set to be completed by the end of 2024.
Beyond these upgrades, the college has also worked towards launching a biomanufacturing training program. This enterprise is a part of President Joe Biden’s Build Back Initiative, which focuses on investing in underfunded communities. In North Carolina, this means more skills and training programs. One of the $1 million donations is being used for lab equipment to aid training programs. This will help the school prepare each student for jobs in growing career fields and enhance the economic upsurge within the region.
Livingstone College was established in 1879 in Concord, N.C., as the Zion Wesley Institute. The school has had a rich history built on providing African-American students with access to a quality education. The institution moved to Salisbury, N.C. in 1887 after changing its name to honor the great missionary and philanthropist, David Livingstone. Still today, the school continues to oblige the needs of the surrounding community by living up to its mission of academic achievement and social conscience.