Out-of-state parents make generous donation to UA after witnessing son’s positive experience

Jennifer and Jefferson Davis, known for their generous charitable donations to academic institutions across the country, recently gifted a substantial sum to support students at the University of Alabama’s Culverhouse School of Business.

The Davises, though not alumni of Alabama, have a close connection to the university through their son, Cole, who is involved in the Investment Banking Academy and Culverhouse Investment Management Group. Cole spent the past summer interning on Wall Street.

The couple decided to donate to the school after seeing firsthand the positive impact it had on their son.

“We wanted to continue our giving at the college level because that’s where you begin to think more broadly, you learn, and you step out of your comfort zone,” said Jefferson. “I do believe that when you’re exposed to other people who have different backgrounds, even if you still might disagree on a wide variety of range of topics, hopefully, it’s a constructive disagreement because you respect their experiences.”

Faith has also played a significant role in guiding the Davis family’s philanthropic efforts.

“It’s incumbent upon us to give if we claim to be who we say we are,” Davis said. “You have to back it up sometimes with the appropriate actions.”

In addition to their donation to the University of Alabama, the family has also contributed to the University of California, Berkeley, where their eldest child attended, the University of Oregon, where their middle child graduated, and the University of Cincinnati.

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten