The “Little Obamas,” as the young men of Urban Prep Charter Academy for Young Men have been referred to, got a surprise treat from a woman famous for her generosity. Oprah Winfrey, who has discussed Urban Prep on her television show, donated $
The “Little Obamas,” as the young men of Urban Prep Charter Academy for Young Men have been referred to, got a surprise treat from a woman famous for her generosity. Oprah Winfrey, who has discussed Urban Prep on her television show, donated $250,000 to the school through her charitable organization, The Oprah Winfrey Foundation.
The students at the all-male charter school, located at 6201 S. Stewart in the Englewood community, were not made aware of the donation until Friday during the school’s year-end awards assembly called Tropaia. The announcement came after a video was shown highlighting Urban Prep’s appearances in various media outlets around the city and nationwide, including a clip of Winfrey calling the young men “Little Obamas” on her show. Several students unveiled the check to their brothers, who applauded upon hearing the news.
The Oprah Winfrey Foundation donation will activate a two-for-one match from a $1 million anonymous challenge donation Urban Prep received last year.
“This gift is amazing! We are so grateful to Oprah Winfrey and her foundation for this generous donation, and we applaud her commitment to increasing access to quality education,” said Tim King, founder and CEO, Urban Prep Academies. “A donation from someone as passionate about education and young people as Oprah Winfrey is all the more meaningful.”
Chicago Public Schools officials were also elated over the donation.
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