Sean “Diddy” Combs has made a generous donation of $1 million to his alma mater, Howard University, in Washington, DC.
The hitmaker behind “I’ll Be Missing You” studied business at Howard but left after two years to pursue his music career. Despite this, he has never forgotten his roots and presented the substantial donation to the university’s President, Dr. Wayne Frederick, on Thursday.
During a performance as part of his Bad Boy Reunion tour at the Verizon Center in DC, Diddy, also known as Puff Daddy, expressed his gratitude: “One of the biggest blessings is getting the chance to one day give back and to support the people that supported you. If I didn’t get some help, I wouldn’t be where I’m at today.”
This contribution follows Diddy’s recognition by Forbes as one of the highest-earning hip-hop artists. For the second consecutive year, he topped the list with earnings of $62 million, largely due to his Ciroc vodka brand and various business ventures. Over the past five years, he has held the top spot four times, even referencing it in his 2014 song “Big Homie,” where he rapped, “The only one that’s topping Forbes, I’m gettin’ lonely.”
Diddy’s estimated net worth stands at $745 million. The 46-year-old rapper, who received an honorary doctorate from Howard two years ago, has allocated the funds to the Sean Combs Scholarship Fund, aimed at helping students facing financial challenges pursue their business degrees.
He shared, “I didn’t graduate from Howard. I was blessed to get my honorary degree, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. The empowerment and support I received during my first two years were crucial for chasing my dreams.”
Although he has since built a successful music career, Diddy continues to cherish Howard University, describing it as a place that felt like home. “The first day I stepped on campus, it was like heaven. You have to see it; it’s an indescribable place filled with so much love.”
Starting next year, Howard will begin distributing scholarships to undergraduate students pursuing degrees in business. Applicants must maintain a 3.0 GPA (85 percent pass rate) and demonstrate financial need
