Morehouse College announced Thursday it has received one of its largest gifts from a donor, $1.5 million that will be used for student scholarships and a new park on campus with an outdoor study area.

The money will be divided, with $1 million going to the scholarship fund and $560,000 to create a park adjacent to the Ray Charles Performing Arts Center on Morehouse’s campus. Students and alumni will help design and name the park.

> RELATED: Billionaire Robert F. Smith to pay off Morehouse grads' student debt

The donation was made by Robert F. Smith, a prominent philanthropist and founder, chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, a software and technology investment firm.

"Robert F. Smith's donation of $1 million for student scholarships will have a profound impact on the lives of deserving young men who have the desire to attend Morehouse College, but lack the resources," Morehouse President David A. Thomas said in a statement. "We appreciate his generosity and his investment in a generation of students who will follow in his footsteps as global leaders and entrepreneurs."

Robert F. Smith, a prominent investor and philanthropist, has donated $1.5 million to Morehouse College. PHOTO CONTRIBUTED.
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Thomas has said he wanted to attend Morehouse, but couldn't afford it.

Smith was the first African-American business leader to sign “The Giving Pledge,” an initiative created by Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett in which wealthy individuals and families pledge to give more than half of their wealth to philanthropic causes, Morehouse said.

Morehouse’s largest single donation was a $5 million gift from Oprah Winfrey, a spokeswoman said.

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8/26/17 - Atlanta, GA - Georgia leaders, including Gov. Nathan Deal, Sandra Deal, members of the King family, and Rep. Calvin Smyre,  were on hand for unveiling of the first statue of Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday at the statehouse grounds, more than three years after Gov. Nathan Deal first announced the project.  During the hour-long ceremony leading to the unveiling of the statue of Martin Luther King Jr. at the state Capitol on Monday, many speakers, including Gov. Nathan Deal, spoke of King's biography. The statue was unveiled on the anniversary of King's famed "I Have Dream" speech. BOB ANDRES  /BANDRES@AJC.COM

Credit: Bob Andres