The Black Foundation interview with Mark Hayes of Good Day Atlanta, FOX 5

The Black Foundation supports Historically Black Colleges with start of the Over 100 Years Paper College Project to Raise Money Last Edited: Monday, 28 Jan 2008, 7:40 AM EST Created: Monday, 28 Jan 2008, 7:40 AM EST

ATLANTA (FOX 5) -- Historically black colleges and universities are alive and well and as vibrant as ever. However, many schools still need financial help to keep them offering a high quality of education. Click below to see more information:

 http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/myfox/pages/ContentDetail?contentId=5604542

Paper College Project - (Memphis, TN) See article in Tri-State Defender written by Jesse McClure

Denzel Washington will donate $1 million to restore Wiley College' debate club that had been defunct for nearly five decades.

Haywood Strickland, president and CEO of Wiley College, made the announcement Monday.

"I was excited, exhilarated, if you will, because we had hoped to be able to make this into an activity that would support the college. And him making this additional gift to our debate team is a dream come true," said Strickland.

Washington told Strickland about his intentions in private discussions Thursday following the press conference for "The Great Debaters." Washington and fellow cast members, Denzel Whitaker, Nate Parker and Jurnee Smollett, came to Wiley to discuss the premiere of the film and answer questions.

Strickland said Washington opted to make the official announcement days later because he didn't want to take "the focus away" from the premiere of the film.

In the past, Wiley College has received large donations from foundations and Wiley affiliates, but none of this magnitude, Strickland said.

Ten students have already expressed an interest in forming an "informal" debate club, Strickland said.

"He appreciated this story. It symbolizes a lot of who he is. He wants to see folks who have not achieved and haven't had the ability to achieve, to excel. The college, itself, epitomizes the story of Melvin Tolson," Strickland stated.

The Wiley president said he's currently in discussions with other representatives of historically black colleges because he believes the recent donation could inspire other colleges to follow suit and "reenter the field of debate."

"It's real special to us," said Strickland. "It's an exciting time and we intend, not only to capitalize on this time but to ensure that Wiley continues to be an entity of high education."

Plans are still in the works in terms of when and how the donation will be utilized, Strickland said.

Strickland and Washington are hopeful that the funds for the debate club will become available by January of next year.

Strickland said he intends to search for debate team instructors and wants to ensure the debate club will have an "academic" and "competitive" component.