A family of accomplished scholars, physicians, and entrepreneurs is giving back to the institutions that helped shape their success in a major way.
Drs. George I. Crawford Jr. and Marcus H. Crawford, both graduates of Morehouse College, along with their sister, Dr. Christine Crawford, a Spelman College alumna, have donated a combined $2 million to support the future of the two historic Atlanta institutions. The gift will provide $1 million each to Morehouse and Spelman, reinforcing the family’s commitment to education, leadership, and opportunity.
For the Crawford siblings, the donation is deeply personal.
“We are who we are because of Morehouse and Spelman,” said George Crawford Jr. “Both institutions created a solid foundation that allowed us to go out and be successful.”
The brothers followed in the footsteps of their father, Dr. George I. Crawford Sr., a Morehouse graduate and dentist. Today, both have built distinguished careers in medicine and entrepreneurship. George Crawford Jr. is a general surgeon in Alabama who also owns a medical technology company and holds patents for four surgical instruments. Marcus Crawford is a plastic surgeon and the founder and chief medical officer of a Georgia-based infusion therapy company that serves patients with chronic and rare diseases.
Half of Morehouse’s $1 million share will be directed to the college’s endowment fund, while the remaining unrestricted funds will support construction of a new Campus Center. The facility is expected to serve as a hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, collaboration, and student engagement.
Morehouse President F. DuBois Bowman praised the gift as a powerful investment in the institution’s future.
The contribution arrives as Morehouse advances its “Making Men of Consequence” campaign, which has raised nearly $370 million to support scholarships, academic initiatives, athletics, campus improvements, faculty recruitment, and research opportunities.
The family’s educational impact extends beyond the brothers. Christine Crawford graduated from Spelman College in 1994 before earning a doctorate in epidemiology from Harvard University. She later taught at Morehouse and worked as an epidemiologist for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention before becoming a successful McDonald’s franchise owner and corporate board member.
Christine credits a Morehouse alumnus, Dr. Bill Jenkins, with inspiring her interest in epidemiology and helping shape her career path.
The Crawfords hope their donation encourages other alumni to consider unrestricted giving, allowing institutions the flexibility to address changing student needs and priorities.
As Morehouse and Spelman continue their missions of developing future leaders, the Crawford family’s gift stands as a testament to the lasting impact of historically Black colleges and universities—and the power of graduates investing in the next generation.