Donor Totals $1 Million Dollars in Total Gifts to Morgan

Alumnus Contributes Second $500,000 Gift in Five Years

Morgan State University President Earl S. Richardson today announced a $500,000 gift to the university from retired UPS executive and Morgan alumnus Calvin Tyler and his wife, Tina. It is the second $500,000 gift by the Tylers, bringing to $1 million their total donation to Morgan to help Baltimore students go to college.

“Both gifts are for the same purpose because we believe that education is very important,” said Calvin Tyler. “We are natives of Baltimore and products of the Baltimore City public schools. We have been truly blessed throughout our lives and so we just want to look for opportunities to help others.”

“The Tylers have an unyielding commitment to Morgan’s mission and a devotion to improving the lives of young people,” says Dr. Richardson. “There aren’t many words to describe the extent of our gratitude to the Tylers.”

In 2000, Calvin and Tina Tyler gave their first gift of $500,000 to the university to establish an endowed scholarship for graduates from Baltimore City public schools who wanted to attend Morgan. Five students have so far benefited from the Tyler’s gift, each receiving a full four-year scholarship to the university.

These Tyler Scholars wonder how they would have been able to afford a college education if not for the generosity of Calvin and Tina Tyler. “It has been an honor to receive the scholarship,” says Breana Fleming, a psychology major at Morgan. “It is a blessing that I have the financial means to go to college.”

The Tylers say that this most recent donation will be used to provide the same level of opportunity for even more Baltimore City students. Both are products of Baltimore City public schools, with Calvin Tyler having graduated from Baltimore City College and Tina Tyler from Frederick Douglass High School. While the gift is exclusive to Baltimore City public school students, the ultimate goal for giving, they say, has no limitations.

“The scholarship was not meant to be exclusive,” says Calvin Tyler. “But if there is a need for aid in the city of Baltimore, why not start in the public schools?” If we continue to be blessed and we are able to,” he says, “we will continue to look for ways to give back to Morgan. Whatever we can do to help is what we’ll do.”

Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a coeducational institution offering more than 60 academic programs leading to bachelor’s degrees as well as programs at the master’s and doctoral levels.  As Maryland’s public urban university, Morgan serves a multi-ethnic and multi-racial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible.  For more information on Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.