Oprah Winfrey opened her checkbook and donated $5 million to the prestigious Ron Clark Academy, a private middle school for gifted black students in Atlanta. Oprah was the special invited guest for the black tie event to commemorate the middle school’s 10th anniversary on Friday night.
“You all are doing such great work,” Winfrey told the crowd of teachers, parents, and volunteers before she shocked everyone by suddenly announcing she was donating $5 million to the school.
The audience and the students erupted in wild applause.
The money will go toward building a performing arts academy. So far the school has raised over $7 million from donors, according to Fox5 News.
Oprah, who rents a spacious penthouse in Atlanta’s exclusive Buckhead neighborhood, also spoke at the school’s graduation in 2010.
In contrast to Oprah’s selfless service to others, power couple Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith embarrassed themselves by donating $5 million to troubled singer/actor Tyrese Gibson to cover his legal fees in his ongoing child custody case.
When you think of all the charities and schools the Smiths could have donated their money to. What a waste.
Photos by Prince Williams/ATLPics.net
