Chance The Rapper Lands $1.5 Million Partnership W/ Yahoo!’s Biggest Rival

Chicago’s Chance The Rapper is really holding down his city. The hip-hop star has teamed up with Google to help local youth and schools launch a massive computer science program.

According to reports, Chance broke the news of his $1.5 million partnership with Google.org Wednesday (December 6) at a public school.

Chance the Rapper made a surprise appearance at Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Academy on Wednesday where fifth-grade students were working on a coding activity with Google employees as a part of Computer Science Education Week. The performer, a Chicago native whose real name is Chancelor Jonathan Bennett, is the latest to join a growing national effort to put computers and computer skills in the hands of boys and girls from all racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. Computer science skills such as analytical thinking and creative problem solving are critical for young people who will be hunting for jobs in an increasingly automated society. (10 News)

Google is distributing the $1.5 million to Chance’s SocialWorks and Children First Fund.

The tech giant donated $1 million to the hip hop star’s nonprofit, SocialWorks, which promotes youth empowerment through the arts, education and civic engagement. Google also gave $500,000 to Children First Fund to support computer science programming at CPS. Google officials said the company believes computer science is a critical part of education and helps students and educators develop technical skills for the future. (ABC 7 Chicago)

As of late, Chance has made multiple school visits to announce major donations.

Late last month, following appearances on “Saturday Night Live” and “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” Chance made a surprise appearance at Clark High School, where Jewel-Osco made a $1 million donation to his arts education fund with Chicago Public Schools, the New Chance Arts & Literature Fund. Since March, Chance, who grew up in the city’s Chatham neighborhood and graduated from Jones College Prep, has raised $2.5 million for CPS and has donated $1 million to 20 schools for arts education programs. (Chicago Tribune)

Back in September, Chance showed his support for a Chipotle Mexican Grill and Chicago Public Schools.