Michelle Obama thanks Chance the Rapper for Chicago Public Schools donation

Mar 7, 2017

After Chance the Rapper donated $1 million to Chicago Public Schools, former First Lady Michelle Obama took to Twitter to acknowledge the donation and thank him for it.

“Thanks @chancetherapper for giving back to the Chicago community, which gave us so much. You are an example of the power of arts education,” she tweeted.

Chance, real name Chancelor Bennett, announced his million-dollar donation Monday afternoon during a press conference. The generous gift comes after a disappointing meeting with Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner about cuts to school funding, in which the Grammy-winning artist said the Republican governor provided “vague answers.”

“As a CPS graduate, Chance has shown Chicago students not only the heights they can achieve but the generosity they can share,” school district spokesperson Emily Bittner said in a statement. “We also appreciate his strong advocacy for Chicago schoolchildren, who suffer under the state’s discriminatory system of funding, which Gov. Rauner continues to perpetuate.”

The two Chicago natives both share a love for their community, and we hope to see more from both of them working toward a better future.

Thanks @chancetherapper for giving back to the Chicago community, which gave us so much. You are an example of the power of arts education.

— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) March 6, 2017