The college student, who requested anonymity for fear of repercussions, said the gift was a major gift to the students and staff at the University of Alabama in Birmingham.
The student received a check for $6.4 million and $10,000 in cash, according to an account obtained by the newspaper.
The check was a gift to a university student from the United Way of Alabama, which helps the state’s homeless and elderly.
He said he was given the check at a party hosted by the UAB administration in February.
The money went toward helping students who have been homeless or living on the streets for a number of years.
The University of Birmingham’s chief financial officer, Steve Johnson, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
The university has been under scrutiny for its handling of the student’s gift and other recent donations.
The UAB campus is the site of a new campus shelter and an academic center that have been criticized for inadequate services for students and faculty.