The Baltimore School for the Arts is “elated” that alumna Jada Pinkett Smith?s $1 million donation puts the school within $2 million of its $30 million renovation and expansion project goal.
“The money means that once the facility is finished and expanded, we will have more kids able to come through the school,” said Leslie Shepard, director of the school.
Smith made the donation to her alma mater this week through the Will and Jada Pinkett Smith Family Foundation, which previously gave $112,500 to the school.
“She built this incredible career and is an inspiration to kids who attend the school,” Shepard said of Pinkett Smith. “She cared enough about the training that she got here and cared enough about the faculty.”
The school will name its new theater after Smith and will honor her request that the facility be dedicated to her friend and fellow classmate, the late rapper Tupac Shakur.
“She loved him very much,” Shepard said. “We have wonderful memories of the work that Tupac did while he was here as a 15-year-old kid bursting with talent. It is meaningful for her to do that.”
And not only will the school?s students benefit from Smith?s gift, but the TWIGS ? To Work in Gaining Skills ? program also will reap a reward.
Donald Hickens, head of the school?s theater department and one of Pinkett Smith?s former teachers, said she was excited about the project once he outlined the campaign.
“She needed to confer with her hubby,” Hickens said. “My guess is that he was aware about how important this school was to her.”
Shepard said the school will continue to campaign for the remaining $2 million through the Baltimore School for the Arts Foundation.
