Former Secretary of State Pledges $5-Million to City College of N.Y.’s Leadership School

How much: $5-million pledge

Who got it: City College of New York

Who gave it: Colin Powell, former Secretary of State and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Where the money will go: To the School for Civic and Global Leadership, which is named for him and encompasses all of the college’s social-sciences departments; the gift will support scholarships and travel opportunities for students.

Donor’s connection to beneficiary: Mr. Powell graduated from the college in 1958 with a bachelor’s degree in geology. He is chairman of the college’s Board of Visitors. In 2006, he pledged $1-million to City College to expand its policy-studies center.

His other plans to give: Mr. Powell is on the board of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture and says he expects to make a significant pledge to the museum. He also plans to make big donations to Boys & Girls Clubs, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, and the America’s Promise Alliance.

Why he gave: Mr. Powell credits City College for his success in the military and in politics because of its open admissions policy and low-cost tuition. “I’m a Bronx/Harlem kid,” he says. “I didn’t go to West Point or the other well-known military institutions like VMI or the Citadel. At the time, black kids couldn’t go there. It was such a good education that when I did go into the Army and served alongside my new colleagues who were graduates of Harvard and Princeton, I was able to compete. ”