Facebook Founder Donates $100 Mil To Newark Schools
NEWARK, N.J. (WCBS 880 / CBS 2 ) -- The founder of Facebook is set to friend an entire New Jersey school district.
The young billionaire is giving away $100 million of his fortune to help the less fortunate.
On Thursday during dismissal time for grade-schoolers at Newark's South 17th Street Elementary School everyone was talking money -- lots of it -- for the city's schools, courtesy of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
LISTEN: WCBS 880's Levon Putney reports
"God bless him. God bless him. Just when you think everyone's forgotten about Newark, he pulls through for us," parent Ken Jackson to CBS 2's Derricke Dennis.
"That's wonderful, wonderful for somebody to give back to Newark and to the kids of Newark. That's wonderful," parent Gwendolyn Newton added.
The historic donation from Zuckerberg's personal fortune was brokered between Newark Mayor Cory Booker and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who's reportedly agreed to loosen state control of the district, giving the mayor new oversight over the money and over a revamping of Newark schools.
"Both gentlemen realized they had to do, what they needed to do to get this gift," said Joseph DePierro, dean of the College of Education at Seton Hall University.
DePierro and his staff work closely with the district. He said rehiring teachers, getting new school supplies, supplying additional training could all be on the table -- on the likely condition that Booker, not the state, be in charge.
"It's probably more of a rope than a string, but that could be a good thing because Cory is here," DePierro said.
Also here is community activist Shariff Amen-Hotep, who questioned the accountability.
"Anything that's not for our children, we're not for. If this money is for them, then we're for them," Amen-Hotep said.
The irony here is that on Thursday Newark schools were open, but city government was technically closed. It was a furlough day for all non-essential city employees -- unpaid to save money. Even the mayor was off. Newark is that strapped for cash.
"I hope they do the best with it. Hopefully it doesn't go to the wrong spots, goes to the kids," activist Antionne Wood said.
Parents Wood and Yaneris Battiata were thinking about leaving Newark to go to a better school district for their 4-month-old son.
"Now, I'll stay, give it a chance. Money makes a big difference, yeah," Battiata said.
The Facebook gift is expected to kick in well before little Jesus heads to his first class.
The Newark teachers' union is reserving comment on the Facebook gift, and the deal to put Booker in charge of the city's schools.
A spokesman said they want to wait and see what changes are made, first.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
