Tyler Perry is back at it again, proving that when God gives you a platform, the best thing you can do is use it to pull somebody else up.!
The entertainment mogul and billionaire philanthropist quietly changed another life by stepping in to cover the remaining graduate school tuition for Janay Duberry, a bright young scholar who was headed to Cambridge but hit a financial wall right before crossing the finish line.
Duberry, an Alabama native who fresh off earning her English degree from Mother Tuskegee University, took to Instagram to share the major blessing with her followers. She revealed that while getting accepted into the prestigious Harvard Graduate School of Education was a dream come true, the cost almost turned that dream into a nightmare. Even with generous financial aid from Harvard, she was still left staring down a hefty financial gap that threatened to hold her back.
<blockquote>”After years of writing, building, networking, and earning my degree at Tuskegee University, I was accepted into Harvard,” Duberry wrote. “Harvard gave me generous financial aid, but I still faced a significant financial gap and did not know how I would make this dream a reality. But God made a way.”</blockquote>
That way came straight from the head of Tyler Perry Studios. The filmmaker heard Duberry’s story, recognized her hustle, and picked up the rest of the tab so she could step onto Harvard’s campus stress-free. Overwhelmed with emotion, the aspiring author and educator made sure to give Perry his flowers publicly for believing in her vision and investing in her purpose.
“Thank you, Tyler Perry, for hearing my story, believing in my gifts as a writer and educator, and covering the remaining cost of my Harvard education,” she poured out in her emotional post. “Your generosity has opened the door for me to continue my education, strengthen my voice as a writer and educator, and move closer to the forthcoming books and educational work I have been building. You are a true light in the Black community. I love you, and I am overwhelmed, humbled, and grateful beyond words.”
While Harvard is the current destination, Duberry made it very clear that her HBCU root system runs deep. In a follow up reflection, she gave honor to the legendary institution that molded her before she stepped into the Ivy League halls.
“Mother Tuskegee prepared me to walk through doors I once only dreamed about,” she wrote.”Harvard became the next chapter, but Tuskegee will always be the foundation. From Mother Tuskegee to Harvard, I carry every lesson, every prayer, and every person who helped me rise.”
This latest act of kindness is just another entry in Uncle Tyler’s long history of pulling out his wallet when the community needs it most. From cutting checks to keep vulnerable seniors housed, to stepping up with over a million dollars for families struggling through SNAP benefit cuts, Perry continues to show that real wealth is about how many doors you can unlock for others.
Duberry has officially kicked off her first week as a Master of Education student at Harvard, stepping into the classroom with a clear mind, zero debt burden, and the full backing of the culture.