Stephen Colbert’s visit to the Manhattan Bridges High School has hit the mainstream media (including the bloggers Ms Interpreted and I met at the high school itself. . . new media represent!). Here’s a roundup of what the news outlets had to say.
From the Associated Press:
Colbert: Does Bill Gates ever talk about me?
Colbert pushed his real-life cause as he mentioned one that has long been the obsession of his fake-news-host persona: “As I endeavor to protect our children from bears, donorschoose.org is protecting public school kids from classrooms that lack the materials necessary to rigorously prepare them for college.”
From the Seattle Times:
Stephen Colbert teams with Gates, protects children from bears
TV personality Stephen Colbert was around to “moderate” the event, keeping the potentially vehement charity announcement from becoming too extreme. . . He’s a board member of DonorsChoose.org. But considering the organization has 13 other board members and 26 advisers, he’s really not that special.. . . Under the “Double Your Impact” initiative funded by Gates, requests that promote college-readiness will be eligible for 50 percent funding from DonorsChoose. Projects would include things like student trips to college campuses, classroom books and SAT/ACT preparation materials.
From GothamSchools.org:
At a city school, Stephen Colbert earnestly reports on new grant
Colbert, who sits on the site’s board, made the announcement in the style of his televised interviews, before an audience of students at Manhattan Bridges High School, but without any of his usual mean comments. (He did draw laughs with an awkward attempt to use Spanish, the native language of many Bridges students, to explain that he was a “perdedor gigante,” or giant loser, when he was in high school.) The panel he interviewed included Vicki Phillips, the head of Gates’ education division; DonorsChoose founder Charles Best; and a Manhattan Bridges English teacher.
And last but not least, from our new friend of the blog, DetentionSlip.org:
DonorsChoose, Stephen Colbert & Gates Foundation join forces to promote college readiness
Charles Best, DonorsChoose.org founder, explained how the non-profit came about after a discussion in a teachers lounge. The organization allows teachers to post projects they are seeking funding for on the DonorsChoose website, then, “citizen philanthropists” can fund the projects whole or in part with any amount of money.They are all about transparency as well, allowing the donors to pick which projects to fund, and giving them a breakdown of how every cent is spent.
The Gates Foundation got involved to match donations 1 for 1 for projects specifically targeted at helping students go on to college.
Great to meet you, Anthony! And now, enjoy a little photographic recap of the DonorsChoose.org event. Click on the images to view them full size:
Additional photos under the cut:
Principal Mirza Sanchez Medina introduces the panelists and moderator Stephen Colbert.
(l-r) Panelists Vicki L. Phillips, director of education at the Gates Foundation; Charles Best, Founder and CEO of DonorsChoose.org; and Elizabeth Smith, teacher at the Manhattan Bridges High School.
Stephen Colbert explains the “Double Your Impact” grant – an intense thing indeed, judging from his expression.
A lucky group of students got to sit behind Stephen on the stage.
Stephen animatedly responds to a question from Ms Interpreted.
Stephen poses with students from the Manhattan Bridges High School.
Not a bad way to spend the morning!
Thanks again to all involved; it was a great time! (Additional thanks to Stephen for being so photogenic.) And a tip of the hat to Ms Interpreted for news links.
Great photos, he looks scary in pix #4, LOL!
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hmmm, Seattle Times seems inexplicably displeased with this event, or at least the fact that Stephen was there. very odd.
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Yeah, whaddup w/ the Seattle Times?
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I simply love the fact that despite what little free time Stephen seems to have, he always seems to find time to do something charitable. Thanks to everyone for the fantastic coverage of this event!
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But considering the organization has 13 other board members and 26 advisers, he’s really not that special.
I saw that quote in the Seattle Times last night, and my reaction was “Hey, them’s fightin’ words!” (Because I talk to myself like I’m Yosemite Sam…) Consider yourselves On Notice, Seattle Times.
I agree with vigwig, he looks pretty intense in that 4th pic!
Thanks, Kina and Ms. I, for covering this special event so thoroughly!
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I get the impression that Seattle Times was trying to being satiric and completely failed. Leave it to the master people.
So nice the way Stephen supports this cause. and nice photos!
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Thanks for the excellent photos, Kina!
Note to all: the lighting in there was probably great for the video, but it was pretty awful for photography. Kina deserves mad props for her photography and editing skills.
Here’s hoping DonorsChoose.org sees some great results from this initiative and, more importantly, that the students and teachers get the funding they so need.
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I’m so excited because we MIGHT be contacting Donors Choose to help fire up a Mac laptop program for our tiny, poor, decrepit old school. Apparently I’ll be helping with the fundraiser and local business owners for fiscal help, so I will mention the program at the next meeting. I’m not sure if our school is “needy” enough for their assistance, but it’s definitely worth a shot. Never would have known about this program without Stephen.
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Nukaleu – here’s hoping that you do get the funding! Keep us posted.
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hahahaha i am from manhattan bridges high school. i was there.
so cool hearing him talk and promoting donorschoose.
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How nice! Anything else to add since you were there?
recaptcha: shanks his
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Oh dear. I didn’t realize what shank meant (a knife), but I thought Jon talked about a shank of lamb during A Colbert Christmas. Hope that didn’t scare anyone.
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Wow! You were there? Awesome!
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Honestly, what is with the Seattle Times?! Lol.
Thanks for consolidating all the news coverage into easy-to-read tidbits! and thanks for the pictures too, he looks so happy – and a bit too intense in that one picture! Ha ha.
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he was very respectful to all the students and he directed himself in a very professional yet funny matter. i for one loved one of my class mates questions which he asked.
he asked… how would donorschoose.org have helped you in high school when you where there about 100 yours ago. Colbert just gave a smile xD
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I love those pics. Especially the first. Great big smile that I love. :-)
6-10 are great as well.
ReCaptcha: took greet
Not sure what that means, but it sounds cool.
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I just checked out the detentionslip.org site & bookmarked it. Loved the collection of education-themed political cartoons, as well as the turnitin.com controversy.
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