You might be familiar with Charles Barkley for his basketball skills during his impressive career with the Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, and Houston Rockets. However, the 61-year-old Hall of Famer and commentator is now using his fame and fortune to help others.
While Barkley has had to overcome his own struggles, notably a gambling addiction that saw him lose staggering sums of money, he is now betting on a more worthwhile cause: education.
As CBS reported, Barkley watched a 60 Minutes report that shared the story of how two former students at St. Mary's Academy managed to solve a mathematical problem that their teacher had assigned them using trigonometry. Experts in the field were staggered that the students had managed to solve the problem that had eluded mathematicians for centuries.
Inspired by their talent, Barkley reached out to pledge $1 million to the all-girls academy. The funding will have a significant impact on the school. As the Academy's president, Mrs. Pamela Rogers, shared:
"We believe the donation will be transformational for our students. We think it will bring us to a new level of sustainability."
The Charles Barkley Foundation shared with CBS how its founder is "very focused on transforming future generations through education and opportunities."
It's always wonderful to see celebrities pledge money to a worthy cause, but especially when it involves investing in our children's future.
You can learn more about the impressive skills of the two students in the 60 Minutes program below:
