A prominent foundation donated $1 million to the University of California, Berkeley to fund scholarships for illegal immigrants admitted to the school. 

The Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund provided the scholarship grant that will go to "nearly 200 students who are not eligible for federal grants, government-backed loans or work-study positions." According to the foundation, the gift is the largest scholarship earmarked for illegal immigrants ever given to a U.S. university.

"These motivated, hardworking and inspiring students are an asset to our state and our country," the fund's president, Ira Hirschfield, said in a statement. "Now that it's legal to do so in California, we encourage other foundations and private donors to consider providing funding to help undocumented students achieve their potential."

The foundation could legally make the donation because California passed the "California Dream Act" last year, which allows "illegal immigrants to receive privately funded scholarships to attend the state's public colleges and universities after attending at least three years of high school in the state."