Chicago Bulls Matched $1M Donation to Schools
When Chance the Rapper made a call-to-arms to every major company in Chicago and across the United States, someone finally answered the call of duty. In a press conference this Friday, March 31 at Paul Robeson high school, he revealed that the Chicago Bulls has matched his $1 Million dollar donation to Chicago Public Schools. In the same breath, he has also announced his New Chance Arts and Literature Fund which will partner with Ingenuity Inc. in an effort to seek out and provide financial resources to CPS schools “in desperate need of an arts program,” Chance said.
In his attempt to help support the budget strapped Chicago Public Schools after a failed meeting with Gov. Bruce Rauner, Chance has made a strong effort to support CPS by raising the money on his own. The Grammy award winner’s Social Works non profit has raised $2.2 Million since he started with his $1 Million donation. Also, he has announced his plans to give $10,000 each to 12 additional CPS schools across various parts of the city including the South and West sides, as part of his to match $10,000 for every $100,000 donated to CPS outside of Social Works.
In a previous press conference, he warned of the dangers of the negative effects that would happen if CPS did not have its adequate funding.
“Our kids should not be held hostage because of political position,” he declares.“If the governor does not act, CPS will be forced to end school 13 days early, which means over 380,000 kids will not have adult supervised activities in June and could be placed in harm’s way. While I’m frustrated and disappointed in the Governor’s inaction, that will not stop me from doing all i can to help Chicago’s most valuable resource, Chicago’s kids.”
He added, “This check that I donated is a call to action,” he said. “I’m challenging major companies in Chicago across the U.S. to donate and take action.”
From there the Chicago Bulls organization was one of the first to match Chance’s original donation with $1 Million.
The schools include a variety of predominatly Black and Latino public schools across the city such as
Crane Achievement Academy High School, Percy L. Julian High School, Philip D. Armour Elementary School, Paul Revere Elementary School, Harlan Community Academy ,Gage Park Academy, Solorio Academy High School, Mariano Azuela Elementary, Michele Clark Academic Prep Magnet High School, Hyde Park Academy High School, Steinmetz College Prep High School, and Adam Clayton Powell Jr., Paideia Academy.
The New Chance Arts and Literature Fund will begin in the fall of 2017.
