Ellen DeGeneres Giving Detroit School $500K, Generous Giveaway Is Biggest For Talk Show Host
Everyone knows how much Ellen DeGeneres loves to help out people in need. She is known for having a generous heart, and she has done it once again. She has secured donations of over $500,000 to a Detroit school to help them out after becoming concerned about the condition of their school in a recent video. This giveaway is depicted as her “biggest and most generous giveaway ever.”
That clip of the Detroit schools showed some of the horrible conditions the buildings are in, and DeGeneres wanted to find out what she could do. According to the Detroit News, she sought out one particular school, Spain Elementary-Middle School, to give them the help that they so desperately need.
“When I heard about (the conditions at Spain), I knew I had to help. We knew we could make a difference.”
Ellen DeGeneres, Justin Bieber, Lowe’s donate to Detroit’s Spain Elementary-Middle School. https://t.co/s0KQ4NOi6R pic.twitter.com/tsqFMmWml0
— The Detroit News (@detroitnews) February 11, 2016
There is not much heat in the classrooms, so the students end up wearing their coats while they are studying. There is also mold growing in many places in the building, as well as water damage to the roof. There are also said to be evidence of rodents and insects that have invaded the building, making it an unhealthy environment for those kids in Detroit.
.@TheEllenShow @justinbieber @Lowes surprise kids at #Detroit's Spain Elem w/huge donations https://t.co/gE14v98nEb pic.twitter.com/AtJTlHbhot
— WJR 760am (@wjrradio) February 11, 2016
The segment on the Ellen DeGeneres Show is expected to air today, and will show the excitement of the staff and kids as they are surprised by not only Ellen herself chatting with them, but also what is to come after that.
The whole thing was a secret between Ellen and the school’s principal, Ronald Alexander. The segment shows the camera heading into the school’s cafeteria to let the kids and teachers in on their surprise. Ellen appeared on the screen, and you could hear just how excited the kids, and the adults, were to be able to chat with her. They had no idea just what the talk show host had in store for them.
In addition to the big donation to the school, Ellen DeGeneres announced that each staffer will receive a $100 Visa gift card, and Lowe’s is also donating $50,000 in technology, which includes computers for the classrooms. Another $200,000 was donated to further help in whatever needs they have for building repairs. A bonus of $250,000 is coming from Lowe’s, as well.
Ellen also had a little help from a particular friend, whose name just happens to be Justin Bieber. He popped out of a box to surprise the students, and was also a fun surprise for the audience at the Ellen DeGeneres Show, as well. Screams were heard everywhere.
His appearance on the show was not only to get female hearts beating, but he is also donating $1 from every ticket that is sold from his upcoming Michigan concert at The Palace of Auburn Hills in April to their school. Spain is considered a performing arts school, but recent budget cuts have left them with no drama or dance teachers. Principal Alexander explained that because of their passion and dedication, those teachers will go in to give lessons anyway in their own spare time.
Check your local listings on the times of the Ellen DeGeneres Show in your area to be see this generous donation segment.
[Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images]
