Stephen Colbert will be taking over “The Late Show” on September 8, but he’s making headlines right now with an unprecedented act of kindness. The money raised from the auction of the desk at which Colbert sat on the set of “The Colbert Report,” along with donations from Share Fair Nation and ScanSource, will be used to help students in Colbert’s home state of South Carolina.
“Using the proceeds of the sale of my old set on The Colbert Report which we auctioned off, and with the generous matching funds from The Morgridge Family Foundation and ScanSource, DonorsChoose is going to flash-fund all 1,000 projects in South Carolina,” Colbert explained.
A total of $800,000 will be used to fund every single classroom project South Carolina teachers listed on DonorsChoose.org. Thanks to Colbert and his allies, nearly 1,000 projects in more than 375 schools will be green-lit.
“Enjoy your learning, South Carolina,” Colbert told teachers and students assembled at Alexander Elementary School in Greenville, S.C. via a live feed from New York.
“There are going to be some happy, happy teachers across the state,” state Superintendent Molly Spearman said. “This is Teacher Appreciation Week, so what a great way to say ‘thank you teachers for what you’re doing every day.’”
“I think it’s generally extra things, but to be honest with you, in some situations it could be basic-type things that the students need where the district just hasn’t been able to fund it,” Spearman said. Grants will fund everything from new books to classroom supplies, school-branded clothing, new carpet for classrooms, dodge balls, bulletin boards, bookshelves, headphones, and more, Greenville Online reports.
“There’s a great need out there and thankfully Stephen Colbert is from South Carolina,” Spearman said.
Watch Colbert’s announcement, below: