Charles Barkley is super generous with the folks back home in Leeds, Ala.
The NBA Hall of Famer and basketball analyst kicked in a hefty bonus to everyone who worked for Leeds City Schools. What was the bonus? That would be $1,000 per employee. There are 226 people who work for the school system, which is outside of Birmingham.
Charles Barkley graduated from Leeds City High School in 1981. He certainly fits the definition of a proud, generous alum. Officials with the school district confirmed he’s donated more than $3 million to the district over the past three decades. The district said he did so “quietly and without any attention drawn to himself” to help students pay for college. Now, Barkley also is helping the teachers, administrators and other school personnel.
His Alma Mater Thanks Charles Barkley in Big Way
The official Leeds City Schools district gave a lengthy thank you to Barkley this week on their Facebook page.
“Charles has also been a huge supporter of both the boys and girls basketball programs at Leeds High–he’s even known to show up occasionally to cheer on the Greenwave. Now, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Leeds’ favorite son has come to the rescue again. Charles has secured laptops for virtual learners. (He’s given) Wifi hotspots, and donations from Clorox Corporation to help the Leeds staff keep the facilities sanitary as we fight the pandemic this year.
The school said it was humbled by Barkley’s gift. Officials described Charles Barkley as a “hometown hero.” And they thanked him for recognizing “the hard work and dedication of the Leeds staff, even under the toughest of circumstances.”
“The Leeds staff has persevered and we can now see the light at the end of the tunnel. We are beyond thankful.“
Charles Barkley, through his foundation, has also endowed scholarships for students who attend Auburn, Alabama A&M, Morehouse College and Clark-Atlanta University. Barkley played basketball for Auburn. Barkley helped lead his high school basketball team to the state semifinals his senior year.
These days, Barkley charms and educates audiences about basketball and life. He’s in his 20th season working as a studio analyst for NBA on TNT. He also does in-studio analysis for the NCAA’s March Madness. Barkley, known as “Sir Charles,” played 20 seasons in the NBA. He was an all-star in 11 of them. In 1993, he earned the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award.
