Sean 'Puff Daddy' Combs has donated $1 million to his old university in Washington, D.C.
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The 'I'll Be Missing You' hitmaker studied business at Howard University and dropped out after two years in order to focus on his music but he's never forgotten his routes and has handed the life-changing lump sum to the schools' President Dr. Wayne Frederick.on Thursday (22.09.16).
Speaking at his show as part of his 'Bad Boy Reunion' tour at the Verizon Center in D.C., he said: "One of the biggest blessings is getting the chance to one day be able to 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."
The 46-year-old rapper - who received an honorary doctorate from the school two years ago - has pumped the money into the Sean Combs Scholarship Fund in the hope that he can help students struggling with money still study business at the university.
He explained: "I didn't graduate from Howard. I was blessed to get my honorary degree but that doesn't tell the whole story. Because the only reason why I was able to chase my dreams was the empowerment that Howard gave me, the support that they gave me, the first two years."
And, although he's now moved on and carved out a career in music, Puff will always hold a place in his heart for the university because it was like "home" to him.
He said: "The first day I stepped on campus it was like heaven. You know heaven," he said. "I mean, that's the best way, it's so much love. It's an indescribable place, you have to see it."
Howard will start dishing out the scholarships next year to undergraduate students hoping to pursue a career in degree, but they must have a 3.0 GPA (85 per cent pass rate) and prove they need financial help.
And the recipients of the Sean Combs Scholarship Fund won't just receive monetary help as they'll also be assigned a mentor from Combs Enterprises and spend a summer interning with Bad Boy Entertainment or Revolt Media & TV, according to website Wusa9.com.
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