Tyler Perry donates $1 million to NAACP

Tyler Perry donates $1 million to NAACP

BALTIMORE (AP) -- Filmmaker "Tyler Perry":http://www.thegrio.com/2009/10/tyler-perry-is-making-headlines.php has donated $1 million to the "National Association for the Advancement of Colored People":http://www.naacp.org to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the civil rights organization. The NAACP says the gift announced Monday is the largest donation from an individual in the organization's history. It will be distributed over four years, according to "The Washington Post":http://www.washingtonpost.com. In a statement, Perry says the perseverance of thousands within the NAACP helped pave the way for his success in the film industry NAACP leaders say the gift marks a major shift in black philanthropy. They say donations of this size have not typically gone to civil rights groups. It's also a key time for the NAACP as the group faces questions over whether it remains relevant. _Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed._