Morgan Freeman Donates $250,000 To College Prep School

Jet, May 21, 2001

Famed actor Morgan Freeman has donated $250,000 to establish a chair of performing arts at a college preparatory school for girls in Memphis.

The endowed teaching position at the Hutchison School will honor Freeman's wife, Myrna Colley-Lee, and their granddaughter E'Dena Hines. Hines, 18, will graduate from the school this year.

"We are a theater family. It is our first love," said Colley-Lee, noted theatrical designer. "We feel this gift is important because the high school theater experience allows students to gain confidence and to explore their talents. We have seen this firsthand through E'Dena's involvement."

Freeman is best known for his roles in Lean On Me, Driving Miss Daisy, The Shawshank Redemption and the current box-office hit, Along Came A Spider.