10. Chrissy Teigen has donated to the crowdfunding campaign for students of
Pop stars and rappers aren’t the only ones doing charitable work for higher education. LeBron James, a four-time NBA champion, has founded a school for children at risk in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. In 2018, I Promise School’s first class consisted of 240 third and fourth graders. It was set up in partnership with the Akron Public Schools, and the goal is to add another 1,000 children to the student body by 2022. The best thing about the I Promise School is the promise James has made for each student’s future education. Students at this school have the opportunity to receive a full scholarship to the University of Akron. The LeBron James Family Foundation is the financial supporter of this $100 million investment in education for children. As you can see, he takes his volunteer work very seriously and is committed to ensuring that his scholarship programs serve students for life.
It’s not every day that your tuition crowdfunding page gets noticed by a major donor. That’s exactly what happened to Mercedes Edney in 2017. Edney created a crowdfunding page on YouCaring. She raised money to cover the cost of the beauty school. Chrissy Teigen heard about their plight and quickly donated $5,605. Ms. Edney had already raised $300, but needed a total of $6,000 for her program. Edney told NBC News that when she got a notification from PayPal, she thought there was a problem. Teigen expressed her support for Edney and her future in the beauty industry on her Twitter.
11. Oprah Winfrey is one of the most generous donors for student loan repayment
Oprah Winfrey is a billionaire, but she’s also a philanthropist. His acts of kindness extend across the globe and his presence in the media has captured the hearts of many. In 1989, Winfrey started a scholarship program at Morehouse College that continues to this day. This scholarship provides financial assistance to African-American men who want to make a difference in the world through higher education. It has donated $13 million to this scholarship fund. She also donates significant amounts to the University of Tennessee, the United Negro College Fund and more than 80 organizations in Chicago. In addition, Winfrey established a scholarship for African women in community service at New York University. Oprah is a well-known personality, and she doesn’t limit herself to donations. For some young people, it was their generosity that helped them through high school.
12. Ellen DeGeneres helped a nurse pay off her student loan
Ellen DeGeneres has awarded full scholarships to many teens and challenged viewers of the show to talk to her about their debts, including student loans. Lauren Wakefield studied nursing and had significant student loan debt. She saw the call to action on social media and left a comment. Wakefield was invited to take a seat in the audience, and DeGeneres was joined by student loan donor Nicki Minaj. Ms. Wakefield’s name was called and she was awarded the maximum scholarship of $50,000 to pay off her student loans. All of these celebrities use their excess funds to help others graduate. Since tuition will never go down and interest on PLUS loans is high, this is a much needed contribution to society. But that doesn’t mean it will happen to you, so it doesn’t hurt to have a plan if you can’t get your student loan paid off by Nellie.
Can’t find sponsors for student loan repayment?
It might be tempting to tweet Ellen or send Drake a direct message, but that’s not always the most practical way to pay off your student loan debt. Don’t hesitate to try it! However, other options also need to be explored. Most students who leave college have an average student loan debt of $28,650. If you are considering graduate school, this number could easily triple. If you are still in school, apply for some of the scholarships listed above. Other than that, Rihanna said it best: It’s time to work, work, work, work on a plan to pay off your student debt. Start by exploring the Student Loan Planner® blog.