Denzel Washingston and his wife Pauletta recently used their Los Angeles home to help raise millions for Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. One of President Barack Obama’s top priorities before leaving the White House is to raise enough funds to complete the museum. The museum was authorized by Congress in 2003 and sits on a five acre lot near the Washington Monument. The total cost of the project is $540 million. According to Variety, “the federal government contributed $270 million, leaving the Smithsonian and others in the community to raise the remainder. The museum reported raising just over $252 million dollars last month –not far from their $270 million goal. The museum is set to open on September 24 of this year, with President Obama cutting the ribbon.” The same weekend as the President’s White House Correspondents Dinner, Denzel and Pauletta opened the doors to their Hollywood Hills for this fundraiser. Over the years, California-based supporters of the museum has raised $55 million. The Washington’s event raised over $17 million, which includes a $10 million donation from Shonda Rhimes. Quincy Jones, Magic Johnson, Goapele Mohlabane and others were in attendance. Other contributors to the fundraiser includes Oprah Winfrey and George Lucas. Both have donated more than $21 million to the museum, which is said to include Nat Turner’s bible, Emmett Till’s original coffin, Louis Armstrong’s trumpet, and Harriett Tubman’s hymnal. Oprah Winfrey will be honored with a 355-seat theater named after her, as well as, Shonda Rhimes will have gallery in her name in the museum.
