BOWIE, Md. — NBA All-Star and Prince George's County native Kevin Durant is making this holiday season a very special one.
Kevin Durant and the Durant Family Foundation committed $500,000 in donations to Bowie State University to renovate the basketball arena in the Leonidas S. James Physical Education Complex. The donation will install a new basketball court at the university, expand the seating capacity, and upgrade the bleachers, and the broadcasting capabilities from the press box.
The Durant Family Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 2013 by Kevin Durant. The mission of the foundation is to enrich the lives of at-risk youth from low-income backgrounds through education, athletic and social programs, the foundation said in a statement.
Wanda Durant, Kevin's mother, presented the donation to the school where she remembers bringing him to play basketball as a teen. Kevin Durant, she said, wanted the community of Prince George's County to know that he will never forget where he came from.
"We are dedicated to providing resources and possibilities to students for higher education, especially in Prince George's County," said Wanda Durant, who leads the Durant Family Foundation. "Bowie State was the perfect place to make a meaningful impact."
Not only will the donation go to the basketball arena, but the funds will also provide financial support for men's and women's basketball teams and university athletics programs. Additionally, the gift will also establish a scholarship for Durant Center College Track students who attend Bowie State University.
"We're grateful for the resources that Kevin Durant and his family foundation have generously donated to Bowie State University to advance student success in achieving their academic goals," said Bowie State President Dr. Aminta H. Breaux in a statement. "His contributions will go a long way towards updating our facilities and ensure a top-tier athletic experience for all of our students. The foundation has already built a network of community-centric services within the Durant Center in Prince George's County that is exemplary."
Bowie State University is the oldest historically Black college or university in Maryland. The campus in Bowie isn't too far from Durant's hometown of Seat Pleasant.
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