Bill and Melinda Gates are no strangers to putting their money where their mouth is and have done so once again with a 10 million dollar donation to the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture.
The donation will go toward design funding and construction. From Black News (via the AP):
Allan Golston, president of the foundation's U.S. programs, says the museum will make the stories and history of African Americans available to everyone.
Groundbreaking is expected in 2012, and the opening is slated for 2015. Construction is expected to cost about $500 million, with half the funds to be provided by Congress.
Museum director Lonnie Bunch has been quietly working to raise funds. He says the Gates Foundation grant is a vote of confidence for the project.
Sweet.