Americans heed the donation call of Stephen Colbert
Americans heed the donation call of Stephen Colbert
News of Stephen Colbert's surprise announcement that he was teaming with
Donorschoose.org to
fund every single teacher-requested grant in South Carolina went mega-viral yesterday. All the attention to the story brought about something else rather extraordinary—readers funding teacher-requested grants nationwide. Reddit users were
particularly keen to help and as of last night, these projects were funded:
- FL Kindergarten teacher needs a carpet $147 to go
- NC Middle School Teacher needs calculators $169 to go
- NYC ESL teacher needs basic supplies $195 to go
- MO teacher needs basic supplies $128
- Louisiana teacher needs copies of "Of Mice and Men" $298 to go
- NC teacher needs basic supplies $92 to go
- NY teacher needs industrial pencil sharpener $168 to go
- MA teacher needs STEM activities $193 to go
- NYC teacher needs calculators $99 to go
- NYC teacher needs basic supplies $175 to go
- Las Vegas teacher needs copies of Dr. Suess $122 to go
- IN teacher needs roll down maps $179 to go
- TX teacher needs a rocket launcher $337 to go
- Louisiana teacher needs a microscope $131 to go
- Chicago teacher needs music for band $235 to go
- NC Math teacher needs basic supplies $507 to go
- NC middle school teacher needs science lab materials $484 to go
- CA teacher needs AP Bio supplies $1279 to go
- NYC teacher needs basic supplies $121 to go
- Philly teacher needs basic supplies $233 to go
- NC teacher needs copies of "To Kill a Mockingbird" $476 to go
- TX teacher needs basic phys ed supplies $444 to go
- FL teacher needs recess supplies $145 to go
- Philly teacher needs copy paper $203 to go
- MI teacher needs a set of Hardy Boy Books $189 to go
- OR mobile library for special needs students needs books $130 to go
- NYC teacher needs STEM books $310
- NYC teacher needs first grade books $299
- OH Preschool teacher to deaf students needs educational toys $158 to go
- WA teacher needs play equipment $324 to go
- CA special ed teacher needs playdoh $118 to go.
- Baltimore teacher needs drums $134 to go
- NC teacher needs Dr. Suess books $146 to go
- IN teacher needs glue and markers $98 to go
- MS teacher needs basic supplies $73 to go
- WA teacher needs basic supplies $186 to go
- CA teacher needs basic art supplies $171 to go
- FL teacher needs basic supplies $149 to go
- NM teacher needs basic supplies $172 to go
- TN teacher needs crayons $119 to go
- NJ teacher needs carpet squares $137 to go
- TX teacher needs math tools $172 to go
- KY teacher needs STEM materials $91 to go
- AR teacher needs a xylophone $288 to go
- NC teacher needs copies of "I am Malala" $400 to go.
- CA teacher needs copies of "Frankenstein" $546 to go
- PA teacher needs copies of Romeo and Juliet $290 to go
- TX teacher needs a world map rug $321 to go
- CA school librarian needs manga $201 to go
- CT teacher needs basic art supplies and heaphones $221
- NY librarian needs graphic novels $210 to go
- Philly teacher needs art supplies $522 to go
- MO teacher needs a carpet $362 to go
- CA teacher needs student microscopes $195 to go
- IN teacher needs basic supplies $222
- CA teacher needs a rocket launcher $468 to go (it's not just Texas that likes to launch rockets)
- Chicago special ed teacher needs math toys $264 to go
- MN teacher needs math tools $195 to go
- IN teacher needs pencil sharpener $78 to go
As many have noted, Colbert's donation is amazing and appreciated, but it is such a shame that our teachers and schools aren't properly funded in the first place. Underpaid teachers nationwide dig into their own pockets on a regular basis to pay for the most basic needs of their students.
Daily Show writer Daniel Radosh sums it up:

It will be a great day when our schools get all the money they need and Stephen Colbert has to buy the Air Force a bomber.
— @danielradosh
Comments are closed on this story.