Complete coverage of the controversial FAMU, CCU megadonor

Stories by Sun News journalists, with AI summarization

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

Coastal Carolina University in Conway, SC.

NO. 1: BEHIND THE QUICK COLLAPSE OF COASTAL CAROLINA UNIVERSITY SECURING A $95 MILLION DONATION

Exclusive: In the midst of financial uncertainty during the pandemic, CCU excitedly touted the historic future commitment. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how it all came crashing down just months later. | Published June 21, 2023 | Read Full Story by David Weissman

Gregory Gerami (fourth from left), president and CEO of Batterson Farms Corp, recently announced a $237 million donation to Florida A&M University at school’s 2024 graduation ceremony. It’s the largest ever for a historically Black college or university. But many are skeptical after a similar donation he pledged to Coastal Carolina University in 2020 collapsed.

NO. 2: WHO IS CCU’S DONOR WHOSE $95M GIFT NEVER CAME? HE’S REAPPEARED IN FL PLEDGING MORE MONEY

It’s reportedly the largest donation ever to a historically Black college or university. Why is there so much skepticism surrounding the $237 million gift? | Published May 8, 2024 | Read Full Story by David Weissman

Gregory Gerami, president and CEO of Batterson Farms Corp, recently announced a $237 million donation to Florida A&M University, the largest ever for a historically Black college or university. But many are skeptical after a similar donation he pledged to Coastal Carolina University in 2020 collapsed.

NO. 3: DEJA VU? FAILED CCU DONOR’S $237M GIFT TO FL COLLEGE COULD BE WORTHLESS, OFFICIALS ADMIT

The university’s president announced they would “put a pause” on processing the donation after days of public scrutiny and skepticism over the historic donation. | Published May 10, 2024 | Read Full Story by David Weissman

Gregory Gerami (left), president and CEO of Batterson Farms Corp, shakes hands with Florida A&M University President Larry Robinson. Gerami recently announced a $237 million donation to FAMU, the largest ever for a historically Black college or university. But many are skeptical after a similar donation he pledged to Coastal Carolina University in 2020 collapsed.

NO. 4: EXPERTS WEIGH IN ON FAILED CCU DONOR’S DUBIOUS $237M GIFT TO FL COLLEGE. WHAT WENT WRONG?

Florida A&M officials said it did its due diligence on the donor, whose previous $95 million gift to CCU fell through. Financial and higher ed fundraising experts disagree. | Published May 14, 2024 | Read Full Story by David Weissman

Gregory Gerami (third from left) poses for a photo with officials from Florida A&M University after announcing a historic $237 million donation to the school. After public skepticism about the wealth of the Texas hemp farm company CEO, officials have admitted the gift may be worthless, and Shawnta Friday-Stroud (second from left) resigned as vice president for university advancement.

NO. 5: VP RESIGNS OVER BACKLASH FROM FAILED CCU DONOR’S DUBIOUS GIFT TO FL COLLEGE. WHAT’S NEXT?

Gregory Gerami told The Sun News he does have remorse over the former vice president losing her position. See what else did he has to say about the situation. | Published May 16, 2024 | Read Full Story by David Weissman

Gregory Gerami, president and CEO of Batterson Farms Corp, recently announced a $237 million donation to Florida A&M University, the largest ever for a historically Black college or university. But many are skeptical after a similar donation he pledged to Coastal Carolina University in 2020 collapsed.

NO. 6: EMAILS ABOUT FAILED CCU DONOR’S GIFT TO FL COLLEGE REVEAL OMINOUS BANK LETTER. WHAT ELSE?

Days after Florida A&M announced the historic donation, people who previously interacted with the donor tried to warn the school it likely just got “bamboozled.” | Published June 11, 2024 | Read Full Story by David Weissman

Gregory Gerami (fourth from left), president and CEO of Batterson Farms Corp, recently announced a $237 million donation to Florida A&M University at school’s 2024 graduation ceremony. It’s the largest ever for a historically Black college or university. But many are skeptical after a similar donation he pledged to Coastal Carolina University in 2020 collapsed.

NO. 7: CCU IS HIDING INVESTIGATION OF FAILED DONOR. COULD FL COLLEGE BEEN SPARED EMBARRASSMENT?

Prior to terminating its relationship with Gerami and years before he showed up at Florida A&M, CCU conducted an internal investigation it’s refusing to release. | Published June 25, 2024 | Read Full Story by David Weissman

Gregory Gerami (left), president and CEO of Batterson Farms Corp, shakes hands with Florida A&M University President Larry Robinson. Gerami recently announced a $237 million donation to FAMU, the largest ever for a historically Black college or university. But many are skeptical after a similar donation he pledged to Coastal Carolina University in 2020 collapsed.

NO. 8: FL COLLEGE PRESIDENT RESIGNING AS FALLOUT FROM FAILED CCU DONOR’S DUBIOUS GIFT CONTINUES

The outgoing university leader took full blame for ignoring warning signs in hopes the would-be historic $237 million gift was real. | Published July 16, 2024 | Read Full Story by David Weissman

Gregory Gerami (fourth from left), president and CEO of Batterson Farms Corp, recently announced a $237 million donation to Florida A&M University at school’s 2024 graduation ceremony. It’s the largest ever for a historically Black college or university. But many are skeptical after a similar donation he pledged to Coastal Carolina University in 2020 collapsed.

NO. 9: FAILED CCU DONOR PULLS DUBIOUS GIFT TO FL COLLEGE AHEAD OF POTENTIALLY DAMAGING REPORT

The $237 million check the donor declared was in the bank turned out to represent potentially worthless stocks. Now those stocks are gone. | Published August 2, 2024 | Read Full Story by David Weissman

Gregory Gerami, president and CEO of Batterson Farms Corp, recently announced a $237 million donation to Florida A&M University, the largest ever for a historically Black college or university. But many are skeptical after a similar donation he pledged to Coastal Carolina University in 2020 collapsed.

NO. 10: SCATHING REPORT RULES FAILED CCU DONOR’S HISTORIC GIFT TO FL COLLEGE WAS FRAUD. HERE’S WHY

The $237 million donation that would’ve been the largest ever to an HBCU ended up costing the school greatly. Read major takeaways from the independent investigation. | Published August 6, 2024 | Read Full Story by David Weissman

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.