Today’s king of comedy, Kevin Hart, 34, donated $250,000 yesterday for the purchase of 500 computers to the public school system his hometown, Philadelphia.
The city’s education system is currently suffering from a major financial plight caused by the summers budget cuts. This year 24 schools were closed and one child died from an asthma attack because the school had no nurse.
Hart spoke on his philanthropy during an interview with philly’s Hot 107.9. He stated, “I felt like the city was in a time of need. I feel like it’s good to step up and show kids that regardless of where I’m at in my life now, I once sat in the same seat they sit in. This city made me. So, me reaching back is me showing them, you have the same opportunity that I had, and it’s just time to make the best of it. You’re not alone. You have people like me that care and hopefully me doing what I’m doing will provoke other people to step up and do the same and help out when they can.”
He continued his statement after being asked whether he anticipated from all Philly celebs such as Jill Scott and The Roots saying, “Well if I am I am. This isn’t something that’s going to go away from my standpoint. I bleed Philadelphia. There is gonna be other ways where I can help. This time, it was me going in my pocket alone, without sponsors or other people to add to it. The next time, because of the attention that this has drawn, I’ll get corporate companies to come in and get involved and help me raise money. This is definitely a start of something big for me. I’m jumping into this philanthropy world and for me, this is where I wanted it to start. How am I going to continue to raise money? I don’t know yet, that’s why I went into my pocket personally, but this is something that I’m going to take serious and go full steam ahead with it. I can only do but so much. It’s sad and I know they are struggling and it’s at a point where the city can only do but so much because the debt that they are in. This is when I really really need a voice and it’s funny because I didn’t know how I could be a voice, how I could do things. I’m a comedian, I’m not trying to go out and talk about politics, I’m not doing that, that’s not my lane. Then by accident, I found my lane, helping my city. That’s my lane, trying to put my city on my back, uplift it and showing these kids that I give a damn. By showing them that I give a damn, hopefully, it’ll keep them interested to stay in school, and make it out, like I did.”
Much respect to Hart!
Thandi
@Tawndurrz
