Stephen Colbert Is Funding $800,000 in South Carolina Teacher Grants

Colbert will donate to projects for over 375 schools in his home state

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Photo: Paul Zimmerman/Getty

South Carolina native Stephen Colbert is giving back to his state in an amazing way.

The new Late Show host announced on Thursday that he will fund every grant request South Carolina public school teachers have placed on crowdfunding website DonorsChoose.org, USA Today reports.

There are currently close to 1,000 requests from 375 South Carolina public schools on the site, which adds up to an $800,000 donation from Colbert.

The former Colbert Report host partnered with The Morgridge Family Foundation’s Share Fair Nation and ScanSource to help fund the grants. Colbert revealed his generous project at a New York event hosted by DonorsChoose.org. His surprise announcement was also shared with Greenville’s Alexander Elementary School via a live video feed.

“Using the proceeds of the sale of my old set on The Colbert Report, which we auctioned off, and with the generous matching funds from The Morgridge Family Foundation and ScanSource, DonorsChoose is going to flash-fund all 1,000 projects in South Carolina,” Colbert said in his announcement. “Enjoy your learning, South Carolina.”

Superintendent Molly Spearman told USA Today most of the funds will go to teacher development and new school supplies.

“I think it’s generally extra things, but to be honest with you, in some situations it could be basic-type things that the students need where the district just hasn’t been able to fund it,” Spearman said. “There’s a great need out there and thankfully Stephen Colbert is from South Carolina.”

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DonorsChoose.org has been assisting South Carolina schools since 2005. The crowdfunding site has helped the state’s education system fund over 13,000 projects, adding up to $5.6 million. DonorsChoose.org allows teachers to create projects where they can request funds for materials and student experiences, and visitors to the site choose the projects to which they want to donate.

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