Leaving a Legacy
Dawson credits his giving nature to following Christian principles on sharing. A 37-year member of the People's Community Church in Detroit, he admits "to not going as often as I'd like," but according to church officials, he has donated thousands to the church in recent years.
Dawson named his most recent gift to Wayne State after his parents, who were always supporters of education.
"If they were alive, I think they'd be very, very proud of me," says Dawson, who is divorced and has an adult daughter, JoAnn Dawson-Agee, who lives in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. "I think they'd constantly be talking about their son, and that would make me feel pretty good."
Dawson's story has touched people around the nation and brought him attention he would have never dreamed of growing up in Shreveport. Oprah Winfrey has had him on her show as a guest; he met U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor; he visited the White House as a guest of former President Bill Clinton, and was interviewed on national television by NBC "Nightly News" anchor Tom Brokaw.
With the money he has given to colleges, Dawson could have purchased a 40-foot yacht to cruise the Great Lakes, or a 4,000 square-foot home, and put two luxury cars in his garage. Instead he wants to uplift the lives of young people.
"I've owned big homes before, but now I'm not trying to impress anybody," he says. "I just want to help people, leave a legacy and be remembered."
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