NBA's David Robinson announces $5 million donation to San Antonio community center

Jet, Oct 6, 1997

San Antonio Spurs star center David Robinson and his wife, Valerie, through the David Robinson Foundation, have agreed to donate $5 million toward the establishment of The Carver Complex in San Antonio.

It is believed to be the largest one-time donation by an NBA player.

The complex, an expansion and improvement project of the Carver Community Cultural Center, will cover three city blocks. It will include a college preparatory school, a civic center and a performing arts venue, and will provide a variety. Of social, economic and cultural services.

"We are committed to giving children the opportunity for a rigorous and caring education," Robinson said. "The Carver Academy will emphasize academic achievement, personal responsibility and moral behavior. This is an exceptional opportunity, and I just thought it would be a wonderful thing for the city."

The Carver Complex's campaign goal is $10 million and has already received commitments of more than $5 million. Robinson's contribution includes an initial $3 million grant and a $2 million challenge grant.

Everett L. Fly, the principal architect of E. L. Fly & Associates and a member of President Clinton's Committee on the Arts and Humanities, has been involved in the complex project since its inception and calls it "a tremendous community building project.

"It has so many human aspects, and it's a perfect urban redevelopment and urban design project," he told the Express-News newspaper.

The David Robinson Foundation is a Christian Organization whose mission is to support programs which address the physical and spiritual needs of the family, in particular those programs which encourage educating children ad developing positive values.