So when the Warwick Public Schools in Rhode Island announced that students with outstanding debts would be limited to eating “sun butter and jelly” sandwiches, there was understandably some backlash and a very public outcry. The school collectively racked up about $77,000 in outstanding lunch fees this year, and the plan was announced to pay back that debt.
This tugged at the heartstrings of one dad in particular—one dad who happens to be very, very wealth. It was the CEO and founder of Chobani, Hamdi Ulukaya. He ended up donating $47,650 from the company to settle the debts.
“As a parent, this news breaks my heart,” Hamdi said in a statement, according to WGNO. “For every child, access to naturally nutritious and delicious food should be a right, not a privilege. When our children are strong, our families are stronger. And when our families are strong, our communities are stronger.”
What a generous man! Thanks to him, thousands of more dollars were donated by others.
as a parent, news of #WarwickPublicSchools breaks my heart. every child should have access to natural, nutritious & delicious food, so @Chobani is doing our small part to help pay this debt
business must do its part.. our responsibility as members of community. who will join us? pic.twitter.com/6HOTjDE4CX
— Hamdi Ulukaya (@hamdiulukaya) May 9, 2019
You can do the same! Whether it’s $1, $10, $100, or $1000, anything you give can make a difference in the life of a child. Many of us are so fortunate to have hot food on our tables everyday, and it’s only fair that these promising young children have the same right! Please share to encourage your friends and family to make a difference!