COLUMBIA, S.C. (courtesy allenuniversity.edu) — Allen University will receive a $500,000 grant from Dominion Energy to support the Good Samaritan-Waverly Hospital Restoration Project. The gift will help to defray costs associated with the reconstruction and restoration of the building.
Allen University is one of 11 historically black colleges and universities benefitting from Dominion Energy’s six-year “HBCU Promise.” The program will support endowments, capital projects, operating expenses and educational programs in clean energy at HBCUs in Virginia, Ohio, North Carolina and South Carolina.
“Dominion Energy’s “HBCU Promise” demonstrates its commitment to amplifying HBCUs and the historical good that comes from them,” explained Allen University President Ernest McNealey. “Allen University is grateful to partner with Dominion Energy in uplifting the invaluable contributions African American South Carolinians have made to our state through the Dominion Energy Palmetto African American Hall of Fame, and the Waverly Project as a whole.”
The grant to Allen University will assist in renovating the Good Samaritan-Waverly Hospital. The $11 million renovation project will house The Boeing Institute on Civility, which will serve as a permanent memorial for the Emanuel Nine, the nine individuals who tragically lost their lives on June 17, 2015, when a gunman entered Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C. It will also house Allen University’s newly approved School of Education, the Dickerson-Green Theological Seminary, the Waverly Wall Museum Portrait Display and the Dominion Energy Palmetto African American Hall of Fame.
The Dominion Energy Palmetto African American Hall of Fame will be a multimedia gallery that presents, recognizes, and celebrates exceptional accomplishments of African Americans born in South Carolina. It will host a formal induction ceremony each year for individuals selected by a distinguished panel.
“Dominion Energy is committed to helping achieve education equity through our ongoing support of historically black colleges and universities,” said Rodney Blevins, president of Dominion Energy South Carolina. “We recognize the importance of investing long term in these students and their schools, which are an important source of talent that we need to help develop and retain in South Carolina. Dominion Energy is honored to support institutions of higher learning and students who are striving for excellence.”
Dominion Energy also has committed $10 million in scholarships to assist African-American and other underrepresented minority students who reside in the company’s service area. Students can learn more and apply at DominionEnergy.com/EquityScholarships.