CHICAGO — Grammy Award winner Chance The Rapper announced Friday that he raised $2.2 million to help 20 Chicago Public Schools schools in Chicago.
He began raising the funds six months ago through his nonprofit Social Works. The organization has been collecting donations for Chicago Public Schools since it was formed last year.
Each school will receive $100,000 over the next three years, with budgeting and staffing guidance provided by CPS and Ingenuity. Funds will be held by the Children First Fund and principals will submit requests for purchases through the nonprofit organization.
Chance, a "parent and proud product of CPS," said he is committed to helping Chicago children have quality learning experiences "that include the arts."
“Over the past month, I’ve crisscrossed the city, from Chatham to Chinatown, Humboldt Park to Hyde Park, visiting students and one thing is clear: if we invest in Chicago’s children, we’ll change the world," the award-winning rapper said in a press release.
Chance The Rapper discussed details of the donation at a news conference Friday at the Harold Washington Cultural Center on the South Side. He was joined by principals from the 20 schools.
Chance the Rapper raised $2.4 million for Chicago Public Schools. [DNAinfo/Andrea V. Watson]
Oglesby Elementary principal, Kimberly Henderson, said she's excited about what Chance is doing. This extra funding will really impact the school through improvement projects like updating the auditorium and expanding their arts program, she said. They are bringing ballet classes to the kindergarten through third grade students and hip-hop and African American dance to the middle school students. Henderson said there will even be ballroom dancing for the fourth and fifth grade students and they will compete at the end of the year.
Henderson said through Chance's actions, he teaching a lesson.
"I think the message here, more than the money, is that everyone should reach back, bring someone up," she said. "He made it, but he hasn't forgotten where he has come from."
Mahalia Jackson Elementary grandmother, Jymmetta Penson, praised Chance.
"I think it's wonderful that somebody who's a celebrity is giving back to the community, the schools," she said. "We're in a stressful time and every little bit we can get helps and he''s helping a lot."
The schools are:
Ambrose Plamondon Elementary
Mireles Elementary Academy
C.E. Hughes Elementary
Edmond Burke Elementary
Edward White Career Academy
Esmond Elementary
Aldridge Elementary
Fiske Elementary
Greenleaf Whittier Elementary
Beethoven Elementary
Mahalia Jackson Elementary
Michele Clark Academic Prep Magnet High School
Ninos Heroes Elementary
Orr Academy High School
Oglesby Elementary
Robert A. Black Magnet Elementary
Dett Elementary
Spry Community Links High School
W.K. New Sullivan Elementary
In March, the rapper, born and raised in Chatham, donated $1 million to the Chicago Public Schools for arts education.
Later than month, Chance's nonprofit Social Works donated $10,000 to nine CPS schools.
