Shaw University News November 2019 Forbes Family Makes $1 Million Legacy Gift to Shaw University A highlight of Shaw University's 2019 Homecoming was the announcement of a $1 million legacy gift from the family of Bishop James A. Forbes, Sr. and Mrs. Mabel Clemmons Forbes. The Forbes family has been staunchly supportive of Shaw for many years, and this donation "will have a tremendous impact in the lives of Shaw University's students," said President Paulette Dillard. At the University's 2019 EPIC Gala on Friday evening, Dr. James Forbes, Jr. impressed a ballroom filled with Shaw alumni and friends when he expressed the family's "ongoing commitment to do everything within our means to support this great university." The Forbes-Shaw connection is deep: the late Bishop Forbes and two of the Forbes siblings, Evangeline Forbes Richardson (now deceased), and Dr. David C. Forbes, are Shaw alumni. Dr. David Forbes, Jr., along with fellow alumna Ella Baker, co-founded the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee on Shaw's campus in 1960, and later served as dean of the Shaw University Divinity School and member of the Board of Trustees. James A. Forbes, Jr., a nationally renowned theologian and senior minister emeritus of the Riverside Church in Manhattan, served as a recent guest lecturer for the Divinity School's "Awakening" lecture series. Board of Trustee Chairman Dr. Joseph N. Bell, Jr. underscored the Forbes' long ties with the University at a reception for the family, saying "The Forbes name has been part of the Shaw University family tree for a long time, and you can see what your family means to us by where we are standing today." The reception was held in the Bishop James A. Forbes, Sr. Conference Room of the Thomas J. Boyd Chapel on Shaw's campus. Speaking for the family, Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr., said, "Our family is delighted to make this presentation to Shaw University on behalf of our parents, Bishop James A. Forbes, Sr. and Mrs. Mabel Clemmons Forbes. They believed in the power of education, and they loved Shaw University. We grew up and attended church just a few blocks from here, and some of our most wonderful experiences have been in connection with Shaw. Since this is the 400th year since the landing of Africans on these shores, it is a perfect time to celebrate the founding of the first university in the South for the education of sons and daughters of Mother Africa. I'm sure our parents will find great delight in glory to see Shaw University continue to provide a quality education for generations to come." Members of the Forbes family include: Mr. Gerard Richardson, Mr. Cy Richardson and the late Mrs. Evangeline Forbes Richardson; Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr., Mrs. Bettye Franks Forbes and Mr. James A. Forbes, III; Congressman (retired) Edolphus Towns, Mrs. Gwendolyn Forbes Towns, Mr. Darryl Towns and Ms. Deidra Towns; Mr. Jonathon West, Mr. Terrance West and the late Mrs. Effie Forbes West; Dr. David C. Forbes, Sr., Mrs. Antoinette "Toni" Spaulding Forbes, Mrs. Cheryl Forbes Moore, Dr. David C. Forbes, Jr. and Ms. Denise Forbes; Ms. Barbara Forbes, Mr. Gregory Carr and Ms. Kimberly Carr; Mrs. Anna Forbes Towns, Esq., Mr. Jason Towns and Mr. Jerome Towns; Dr. Ronald Forbes, Sr., Mrs. Giola Greene Forbes, Ms. Alicia Forbes, Mr. Ronald Forbes, Jr., Mr. Carlton Forbes and Mrs. Melanie Forbes Goins. The Forbes family's legacy gift was the largest in the Homecoming Week that saw several donations to Shaw University by individual alumni, alumni chapters, corporations and other supporters. The total amount raised to date is $1.7 million, and the gifts have continued to come in. "We are very appreciative of everything our alumni and friends do for the University and our students. Every donation helps us to fulfill our mission; every gift brings us nearer to realizing the vision for Shaw's future," said Dr. Dillard. The Shaw Bears added even more excitement to a big Homecoming Week with a win in Saturday's football game. SANDRA M. PHOENIX HBCU Library Alliance Executive Director Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library 111 James P. Brawley Drive SW Atlanta GA 30314 404-978-2118 (office) 404-702-5854 (cell) http://www.hbculibraries.org sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> Honor the ancestors, honor the children and those yet to come. Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/hbculibraryalliance1/ and Twitter at https://twitter.com/HBCULibAlliance Check out "PULSE!" The HBCU Library Alliance's News Source! - https://hbculibraryalliance.wordpress.com/