BP Donates $1 Million to Support IAAM Creation, Programming, Education

CHARLESTON, S.C. (July 16, 2019) – BP announced a major financial commitment of $1 million to the International African American Museum (IAAM). The donation supports the museum construction along with programs and education.

BP has a significant presence in South Carolina. The BP Cooper River Plant built in 1978 is located in Berkeley County on land that once housed two plantations on the Cooper River. The remnants of bricks and kilns can be seen at one of the plantations where enslaved Africans were once used for labor. In 2017, the company completed the upgrade of its Berkeley County plant that will significantly reduce the site’s energy use and emissions.

“BP is humbled and honored to be part of such an important project not only for Charleston but also for the world,” said John Harvey, manager of BP’s Cooper River facility. “We hope this donation will help the museum grow to become a premier attraction, research center and lasting memorial for generations to come.”

“We are so grateful to John Harvey for his leadership in securing this generous donation,” said Joseph P. Riley, Jr., IAAM board member and former Charleston mayor. “This gift is a great testament to the importance of creating the International African American Museum not only for our country but for the world.”

Michael Boulware Moore, IAAM CEO and president, added, “The BP team wants to build a sustainable relationship with the museum that goes beyond this generous financial donation. We look forward to working together to find a variety of ways to connect and collaborate.