Timberlake donates $200,000 in Memphis

Justin Timberlake poses backstage at the MTV Video Music Awards in this Sept. 9, 2007, file photo in Las Vegas. Timberlake has made two separate donations of $100,000 each to the Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum and the Memphis Music Foundation. Timberlake, who was in Memphis for filming on the independent movie "The Open Road," presented the checks to the two groups on Thursday, March 20, 2008, at the museum. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken, file)

MEMPHIS, Tenn.—Justin Timberlake has made two separate donations of $100,000 each to the Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum and the Memphis Music Foundation.

The 27-year-old area native, who was in Memphis for filming on the independent movie "The Open Road," presented the checks to the two groups last week at the museum.

Timberlake, who grew up in the Memphis suburb of Millington, became a star as part of the boy band 'N Sync. He has since become a best-selling solo artist. He also has appeared in the films "Alpha Dog" and "Black Snake Moan" and voiced a character in "Shrek the Third."

Timberlake said he donated the money because music education and keeping Memphis' music legacy vibrant are important to him.