Former NFL quarterback and Lousiana native, Peyton Manning, along with the help of his foundation, has sponsored six endowed scholarships at historically Black colleges and universities.
What We Know:
- Manning’s Peyback Foundation, which was founded in 1999 by Peyton and his wife, Ashley, has endowed six scholarships at four HBCU schools in Manning’s home state of Louisiana and two in Tennessee, where he played college football for the University of Tennessee. The six HBCU’s receiving endowment scholarships are Grambling State University, Southern University, Tennessee State, Fisk University, Xavier University of Louisiana, and Dillard University in New Orleans.
- The award for Grambling State University will bear the name of alumnus Doug Williams, the first Black quarterback to win a Super Bowl in 1987. He was informed by the university that a certain foundation was endowing a scholarship in his name, but when he questioned it, his alma mater shared that the donor wished to remain anonymous. That didn’t stop Williams, a senior vice president for the Washington Football Team, who called around and found out it was Manning’s foundation.
“Ha, you know I have my connections at Grambling. I made a phone call and found out it was Peyton Manning’s foundation and it was endowing a half-dozen scholarships at historically Black colleges and universities [HBCUs]. Peyton is a Louisiana boy. I know he’s given to a lot of wonderful causes without publicity, but this was a most pleasant surprise for me.”
- At Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Harold Carmichael, former Philadelphia Eagles receiver and 2020 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, was named on an identical endowment. Carmicheal shared about his experience at his HBCU alma mater, saying that it was an honor to have his name attached to a scholarship. “An endowed scholarship with my name attached? I am really humbled and blessed,” he said.
- Wilma Rudolph’s name was honored on the endowment scholarship at her alma mater, Tennessee State. Rudolph, who died from cancer in 1994, was a sprinter who became the first woman to ever win three gold medals in the Olympics in 1960.
- The endowment namesakes at the other HBCU’s are not known for athletics, but rather as being pillars in the Black community, known for their historical contributions.
- At Fisk University in Nashville, the scholarship honors the late Dr. Reavis L. Mitchell Jr., a 40-year history professor who was frequently consulted on African American heritage and often cited in publications and documentaries.
- At the Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans, Dr. Norman Francis is honored by the scholarship. Francis, the school’s president since 1968, received a presidential medal of freedom in 2006 for his efforts planning the recovery and rebuilding of New Orleans and surrounding areas after Hurricane Katrina.
- At the New Orleans HBCU Dillard University, Dr. Michael Lomax is the namesake. Lomax is a former university president and has been the president and CEO of the United Negro College Fund since 2004.
- When contacted, Manning declined to comment on his personal involvement in the endowments, but he did provide a statement on his foundation. “The Peyback Foundation is honored to partner with these six colleges to honor distinguished Alumni and staff members, and to help college students at these schools now and many years to come. Really, for perpetuity.
Williams said he believes Manning’s cause deserves a spotlight, saying, “I think Peyton needs to be recognized so we can expand the circle of potential donors out there for a great cause.” You can learn more about Manning’s Peyback Foundation here.
