Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving has covered the tuition expenses for nine students at Lincoln University, a historically Black college (HBCU) in Pennsylvania.
According to The Athletic, the NBA star made the donation to the graduating seniors on Dec. 10. It was also part of his KAI Family Foundation’s 11 Days of Giving in December.
“I’m grateful for all you young leaders,” Irving told the students, according to a video that was released by his foundation. “I wouldn’t be sitting in my position and embracing who I am without knowing where I come from and people helping me along the way, so just paying it forward. I’ve committed to my service a long time ago and I’m walking the steps now and I want the same for others.”
Lincoln University addressed Irving’s huge donation on social media. “Thanks Kyrie! We truly appreciate your generosity!” the school’s official Twitter account tweeted.
Irving has always been one to give back. He recently pledged $1.5 million to WNBA players who opted to sit out last season — whether for Coronavirus-related health concerns or for social justice reasons. “Whether a person decided to fight for social justice, play basketball, focus on physical or mental health, or simply connect with their families, this initiative can hopefully support their priorities and decisions,” he said in a statement.
Last March, Irving donated $323,000 to Feeding America to assist with food insecurity during the pandemic. He also partnered with City Harvest to donate 250,000 meals across the New York area “to help marginalized communities get the food sources they require.”
Additionally, Irving has fought to keep Breonna Taylor’s name alive after she was fatally shot by several Louisville Metro Police Department officers. He produced “#SAYHERNAME: BREONNA TAYLOR,” which is a TV special that highlighted specific calls of action that people could take to demand justice, such as registering to vote, calling city and state officials and encouraging people to post on social media.