Stephen Colbert makes huge donation to fund teachers’ wish lists

At an event held at Alexander Elementary School in Greenville, South Carolina, Stephen Colbert just made the most amazing announcement.

He along with partners Share Fair Nation and ScanSource will provide the money to grant every single request from South Carolina public school teachers on the crowdfunding site DonorsChoose.org.

“As a product of the South Carolina school system,” Colbert told the elementary school kids via video, “using the proceeds from the sale of my old set from the Colbert Report, and with generous matching funds… DonorsChoose is going to flash fund all 1,000 projects from South Carolina public school teachers.”

Sniff.

That’s right. Just in time for Teacher Appreciation Week, 1,000 projects for about 800 teachers across 375 schools will be fully funded to the tune of $800,000. Colbert was joined by Damon Qualls, a teacher from Alexander Elementary in Greenville, South Carolina, and the State School Superintendent, Molly Spearman, for his announcement.

What makes this so much more special is that Colbert is getting that money directly into the classroom and to work for kids. Here are just a few of the projects this donation will fund.

Just at Alexander Elementary school in Greenville, a low-income area where 100 percent of the students are on free or reduced lunch, teachers will be getting several important items.

1. Amanda Wilson, a special education instructor, will get a trampoline and treadmill for sensory therapy totaling $504.
2. Beth Bailey, a media specialist (librarian), will get books for girls totaling $408.
3. Stacie Campbell, the school’s kindergarten teacher, just wanted $165 worth of new dodge balls for recess.
4. Mrs. Moore’s students at Wilson High School wanted a new Chromebook for her technology students for $341.
5. Mr. Ramsey’s kids at Tavern Elementary-Middle school just needed batteries for calculators, so his kids could work to bring up their statistics scores, for $399.

As heartbreaking as it is to think that teachers have to turn to crowdsourcing for books and other classroom basics, it sure gives you hope for the future to see someone like Stephen Colbert lend a hand in such a big way. How’s that for a Teacher Appreciation Week gift?

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have something in my eye.

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