In celebration of its 150th anniversary, Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, Texas, received a $150 million gift from the Moody Foundation. According to the university, this is the largest single donation ever made to a historically Black college or university in the United States.
“This gift is a testament to faith, prayer, and the genuine belief in the goodness of others,” said Melva K. Wallace, president and CEO of Huston-Tillotson University. “I am forever grateful to the Moody Foundation trustees Ross Moody, Elle Moody, and Francie Moody-Dahlberg. Their donation will completely transform Huston-Tillotson, as well as the city of Austin, and set us up for success for another 150 years.”
Huston-Tillotson plans to use the majority of this historic gift to support its students. The funds will go towards enhancing student living and academic spaces, developing innovative scholarship programs, and establishing a series of endowments. Part of the donation will be used to support the HBCU’s operational needs.
“We hope this gift, focused on the students, can become a catalyst, a spark, the beginning of something transformative for students, this city, and the future of Huston-Tillotson,” said Ross Moody. “We believe in the vision of Huston-Tillotson and the extraordinary leadership of Dr. Wallace and the board. Our family has been part of the university’s past, but we are even more excited to be a part of its promising future.”
Established in 1942, the Moody Foundation funds projects and programs in the arts, education, environment, health, and social services across the state of Texas. The foundation has a long-standing partnership with Huston-Tillotson University, with contributions totaling more than $1.3 million since 1968. The latest donation is part of the organization’s pledge to invest $1 billion towards advancing education in Texas by 2035.
“Our commitment to the future of Texas education is at the core of our foundation and fundamental to this gift,” said Elle Moody. “We believe in the power of education and its impact on students, Huston-Tillotson, and Austin. Fueling student success is at the heart of the missions of both Huston-Tillotson and Moody Foundation. We are proud to support this historic institution and hope this gift can inspire others to join us in learning about Huston-Tillotson’s immense contributions.”
