Justin Bieber Generously Donates $10,000 To Tulsa High School During Surprise Visit
Justin Bieber is full of surprises. His latest? A $10,000 donation to the music program at Tulsa’s Central High School in Oklahoma. The superstar also performed an acoustic set for students during yesterday’s surprise visit.
The Biebs’ generous donation and acoustic show took place just a few hours before he performed at his Purpose World Tour spectacular at Tulsa’s Bok Center on Thursday night, April 7.
The Canadian singer hinted at his Tulsa appearance on Twitter on Thursday morning in a brief message, writing, “Something special in Tulsa today. #giveback.”
Something special in Tulsa today. #giveback
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) April 7, 2016
Tulsa Public Schools spokesman Chris Payne told FOX23 that Bieber dropped by the choir practice at Central High School in the afternoon and chatted with about 25 students.
The 22-year-old pop icon also played two songs, accompanying himself on acoustic guitar. The performance will air during the 2016 Radio Disney Music Awards which airs on May 1. Justin also listened to the choir sing and took selfies with the “totally shocked” students who “didn’t know he was coming,” Payne said.
.@justinbieber performs for #Tulsa students before tonight’s @BOKCenter concert https://t.co/USeOGgZOHn pic.twitter.com/lgcdIBg0Ux
— FOX23 (@FOX23) April 8, 2016
Justin Bieber Surprises Tulsa High School Before Concert At BOK Center https://t.co/DN5jTcZRmk pic.twitter.com/so5Fr05lA6
— News On 6 (@NewsOn6) April 7, 2016
.@justinbieber surprises Central High School music students ahead of Thursday concert https://t.co/tNmh2VqK30 pic.twitter.com/Qsnmyovr1U
— Tulsa World (@tulsaworld) April 8, 2016
“For the kids who were there, it took a few minutes for it to register that it was Justin Bieber,” Payne recalls. “Then, once they began to realize who it was, there were some excited shrieks.”
Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent Deborah Gist later tweeted at Tulsa World Scene reporter Jerry Wofford, that “I’m now one of the #Beliebers!”
Earthquake! Or maybe it was just @justinbieber making his presence known in Tulsa! #Beliebers
— Deborah A. Gist (@deborahgist) April 7, 2016
@jerrywofford I’m now one of the #Beliebers!
— Deborah A. Gist (@deborahgist) April 7, 2016
Very special! #thankyou https://t.co/yqQT4FjYGB
— Deborah A. Gist (@deborahgist) April 7, 2016
Payne said Bieber made a verbal $10,000 donation to the school’s music program. The superstar’s pledge comes amid cuts to monies for Tulsa schools. A Radio Disney camera crew also filmed footage of the Biebs’ visit. Radio Disney contacted Tulsa High school officials a few weeks ago, but were careful not to reveal Bieber’s identity.
“[We] just knew it was a ‘high profile artist,'” Payne said, but said officials guessed it was Bieber. “We had a pretty good idea given that he was scheduled to perform [Thursday].”
The “Sorry” singer didn’t just donate $10,000 and perform while during his visit to Tulsa Central High School, the heartthrob and his team also gave free tickets to the Bok Center show to the choir, orchestra, teachers, and other staff who were present.
News of Bieber’s surprise appearance raced across Twitter yesterday thanks to numerous Justin Bieber fan sites sharing pics, messages, and videos of the singer at the school and talking to fans outside the Bok Center before his show.
A selection follows:
Justin outside the arena yesterday, Tulsa, Oklahoma! #PurposeTourTulsa pic.twitter.com/6zWaCNMfMX
— Purpose Tour Updates (@PurposeTourUD) April 8, 2016
(10) Another video of Justin Bieber spotted at the arena today in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (April 7) pic.twitter.com/sYE4RSX0ei
— JustinBieberCrew.com (@JBCrewdotcom) April 7, 2016
(9) Another video of Justin Bieber spotted at the arena today in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (April 7) pic.twitter.com/M9x8skri00
— JustinBieberCrew.com (@JBCrewdotcom) April 7, 2016
(8) Another video of Justin Bieber spotted at the arena today in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (April 7) pic.twitter.com/CkksKCtl4k
— JustinBieberCrew.com (@JBCrewdotcom) April 7, 2016
(7) Another video of Justin Bieber spotted at the arena today in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (April 7) pic.twitter.com/6oOLCIbVzb
— JustinBieberCrew.com (@JBCrewdotcom) April 7, 2016
(4) Another video of Justin Bieber spotted at the arena today in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (April 7) pic.twitter.com/Yws2vMKSRC
— JustinBieberCrew.com (@JBCrewdotcom) April 7, 2016
richwilkersonjr via Snapchat: pic.twitter.com/ynaeYo9M20
— Conexão Bieber (@conexaobieber) April 7, 2016
Meanwhile, an over 19,000-strong Tulsa crowd, which included the Tulsa Central High School students who were given free tickets, were evidently thrilled by Justin Bieber’s Purpose World Tour extravaganza at the Bok Center last night. For a review see below.
REVIEW: @justinbieber serious talent on display at BOK Center show https://t.co/pEHyXC9BYv pic.twitter.com/IjyW3O8Qf2
— Tulsa World (@tulsaworld) April 8, 2016
Thank you #Tulsa and @justinbieber! #rocktheBOK #PurposeTourTulsa pic.twitter.com/l9XrpKtkYT
— BOK Center (@BOKCenter) April 8, 2016
[Images via Beretta Sims/Rex Shutterstock]