Posted by | Ray Cornelius

CONGRATS to award-winning hip hop star and philanthropist Chance the Rapper! His organization—Social Works—received $1 million today from Google.org. The organization also donated $500,000 to Chicago Public Schools’ CS4All Initiative.

It all started when Chance decided to stop by the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Academy and surprise a group of students who were working with Googlers as part of Computer Science Education Week. After helping them code, Google.org announced that they would donate funds to the Chicago students and to Chance’s non-profit organization.

The grant will help teachers implement computer science and arts curriculum in their classrooms, and it builds on $40 million in Google.org grants that provide opportunities for students underrepresented in computer science to explore the field.

“Our grant with Google.org helps SocialWorks provide programming that sheds light on another pathway to success for young Chicagoans. While every student doesn’t need to become a computer scientist, understanding the basics empowers them to understand the world they live in. The opportunity to help kids code to share their music, artwork, and distinct point of view is at the core of our mission and an experience we look forward to providing in classrooms across the city,” said Justin Cunningham, Executive Director of Social Works.

 “We’re honored to support SocialWorks’ mission to help underrepresented students in Chicago reach their full potential, as well as Chicago Public Schools’ efforts to turn computer science into a pathway for creative expression, said Justin Steele, Google.org Principle.  “There’s so much talent and creativity in the communities that these schools serve-and Chance The Rapper embodies what can happen when that creativity is unleashed. With exposure to computer science, students can use technology to turn their creative passions-whether that’s art, writing, music or something else-into something bigger.”

Way to go Google.org!!!

Photo Credits: Google.org