Wednesday, April 3, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
For those who view boxing as an art form, Don King's ongoing scholarship donations to UNLV's College of Fine and Performing Arts won't seem unorthodox.
For the rest, it may raise a few eyebrows, if not their hair.
"People ask me, 'Why are you accepting money from Don King?' and I look at them and say, 'Why not, it's for the kids'," said Jeffrey Koep, who heads the department.
King first donated money to the school in 1994 and has been donating to the college regularly for the past year, funding more than a dozen scholarships for minority students ranging from $500 to $2,500. His Showtime Productions company has committed to a $5,000 donation for every boxing event King promotes in Las Vegas.
To date, the fund has generated $55,000 in revenues to the college.
"It's really not a difficult connection between boxing and performing arts when you think about it," Koep said.
By helping more minorities pursue their dreams in the creative arts, King is helping break down barriers, according to Koep. He said many students from disadvantaged backgrounds who want to get a "real job" or one that will be a "money maker" don't get much support from parents. But that shouldn't be an obstacle for students who want to pursue painting, dancing, acting or singing.
"If it weren't for Don King's scholarship, many of these kids wouldn't be going to school," Koep said.
UNLV's pep band dedicated a tribute to King before the last Mike Tyson bout, and King invited the troop of 50 students to attend the match as his guests, along with the current scholarship recipients.
UNLV is not King's only "investment in the future." He has also donated about $200,000 to the United Negro College Fund and $140,000 to the National Hispanic College Fund.
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