South Carolina

Praise, memes and internet sleuths. What did social media say after $237M FAMU donation?

Gregory Gerami (fourth from left), a Texas hemp farming executive, announced a $237 million donation to Florida A&M University at the school’s 2024 graduation ceremony. “And by the way, the money is in the bank,” he proclaimed. The gift was later deemed fraudulent.
Gregory Gerami (fourth from left), a Texas hemp farming executive, announced a $237 million donation to Florida A&M University at the school’s 2024 graduation ceremony. “And by the way, the money is in the bank,” he proclaimed. The gift was later deemed fraudulent. Ernest Nelfrard Courtesy Florida A&M University

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Gregory Gerami

Gregory Gerami’s $237 million donation to Florida A&M University was fake, investigators say. Here’s the story behind how he deceived the Florida HBCU, South Carolina’s Coastal Carolina University and others.

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Gregory Gerami’s $237 million donation announcement during Florida A&M University’s 2024 spring commencement turned out to be a made-for-social-media moment. Where university officials failed in conducting proper due diligence on their enigmatic new benefactor, amateur internet sleuths quickly pieced together enough information to conclude this probably wasn’t going to end well.

First came the praise for what was reported to be the largest gift ever given to a historically Black college and university:

Then skeptics within the FAMU and HBCU networks started digging into the background of the relatively unknown Texas hemp farming executive and posting their findings to cast doubt on the situation:

@kingroseworld FAMU 237 million dollar donation #famu #florida #hbcu #donation #stocks #gregorygerami ♬ original sound - KINGROSEWORLD
@keltonallen #kelton #famu #donation #highereducation #hbcu#scam #gregorygerami ♬ original sound - Kelton allen

As FAMU officials began backing away from their association with Gerami and it became more clear the donation was sketchy, high-profile commentators including Roland Martin and former Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum started posting their thoughts:

@nativelandpod NLP host Andrew Gillum believes Gregory Gerami’s shady “donation” to FAMU highlighting how he stole the spotlight from the 2024 graduates. New episode out NOW on @iHeartpodcasts and wherever you get your podcasts. Link in bio ️  #nativelandpod #nlp #famu ♬ original sound - Native Land Pod
@angela_rye NLP co-host @angelarye on Gregory Germani’s so-called “donation” to FAMU. CHILE…..what a mess! That Dollar Store mask was a DEAD GIVEAWAY! #NLPFam, when did you know this donation was not legit? Did you know the largest donation to an HBCU in history was made THIS YEAR to Spelman? It was $100 million!   New episode out NOW on iHeart and wherever you get your podcasts. Link in bio ️  #nativelandpod #nlp #famu ♬ original sound - Angela Rye

Finally, of course, came the memes:

Months after the donation was announced, FAMU investigators deemed the gift fraudulent.

This story was originally published November 18, 2024 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Praise, memes and internet sleuths. What did social media say after $237M FAMU donation?."

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David Weissman
The Sun News
843-626-0305
Investigative projects reporter David Weissman joined The Sun News in 2018 after three years working at The York Dispatch in Pennsylvania, and he’s earned South Carolina Press Association and Keystone Media awards for his investigative reports on topics including health, business, politics and education. He graduated from University of Richmond in 2014.
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Gregory Gerami

Gregory Gerami’s $237 million donation to Florida A&M University was fake, investigators say. Here’s the story behind how he deceived the Florida HBCU, South Carolina’s Coastal Carolina University and others.

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