Considering the money Chance is earning as an independent artist, he chose to take matters into his own hands, announcing that the million dollar donation is coming through ticket sales as a joint effort with his concert promoters, including Live Nation and Ticketmaster.
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He said he was doing this because “it’s the right thing to do”.
“His plan to fix the fact that Chicago taxpayers pay twice for teacher pensions is to have them pay three times instead”, Collins said in the statement. Within the school system, 87% of students are from low-income homes and significant socio-economic gaps are reported, especially in academic achievement levels. Ultimately, he wants to “help cultivate Chicago creative minds”.
“He actually really cares about the school, not just Grammys and money”, Williams said.
“As a CPS graduate, Chance has shown Chicago students not only the heights they can achieve but the generosity they can share”, school district spokesperson Emily Bittner told CNN in a statement. Chance called the endowment a “call to action”.
“He only said he wanted to discuss funding”, she said. In December, Rauner vetoed a plan to allot $215 million to Chicago Public Schools after he said Democratic leaders “publicly reneged” on a pension reform measure to slash state employee retirement costs. While at the Westcott Elementary School, he vowed to do whatever it takes for children in need and their education and expressed disappointment in Illinois Gov. Rauner.
Chance says he was frustrated after speakig with the governor last week. Chance used this opportunity to again impress the gravity of the situation. By publicizing the district’s budget woes and throwing down a “Do you job” challenge to Governor Rauner, Chance is working to hold state officials accountable-and to ensure that it’s not the hundreds of thousands of kids enrolled in Chicago’s public schools who are left holding the bag instead. Earlier today, Governor Rauner proposed two possible solutions to solve the budget crisis, however Mayor Rahm Emanuel rejected both proposals.
Yesterday, Chance the Rapper announced via a press conference that he planned to donate $1 million dollars toward Chicago public schools.
“While the Rauners are passionate donors to our schools, individual contributions will never be enough to address the financial challenges facing CPS”, said spokeswoman Eleni Demertzis. The city in each of the last several years has released surplus TIF funds to CPS, but Rauner’s request goes beyond that annual surplus amount.
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The introduction of charter schools – private schools that take public school funding – has escalated the fight for free public education in Chicago and indeed, nationwide.
