Why Chicago Needs Chance the Rapper’s Donation

by Lauren Johnson
Due to budget cuts and reports of mismanaged state money, the Chicago Public School district has been riddled with complaints about over-crowded schools and short-staffed institutions. As years went on, matters only got worse, creating situations where students’ education suffered due to their schools lack of funding.

Back in 2008, Community TV Network students shot “Chicago Now,” a documentary showing the troubles CPS students faced trying to make their voices heard. As CTVN Student Derell Bonner put it:

The people who can change the Chicago public school situation aren’t doing their jobs. So I feel like why should the students care if the people who can ultimately change the situation aren’t doing their job.

Nine years later, little has changed to the benefit of CPS students. Chicago citizens are now calling on Gov. Bruce Rauner to allocate more money to the suffering school district’s budget, but few are hopeful he will deliver.

However, Chance The Rapper, a CPS alumni himself, has given hope to many Chicago students whose schools lacked the resources to provide them with a decent education. On March 6th, Chance announced he will be donating one million dollars of his own money to the Chicago Public School Foundation to ensure the students’ education is put first. Chance said:

Our kids should not be held hostage because of political positioning.

This announcement came only days after Chance met with Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner to go over flaws in the CPS budget, a meeting which Chance said was very unsuccessful.

Chance’s generosity has influenced others to donate to CPS including former Bulls player Derrick Rose and businesses like Chicago’s very own Chop Shop. For more information on how you can donate to CPS, visit their website.