Disney’s money is going to education, says George Lucas

Share

George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars, is donating the cash he received from the sale of his storied Lucasfilm to a cause close to his heart: Education.

Mr. Lucas recently announced the sale of his company to Disney for $4.05-billion, and he plans to put some of that money into a foundation that focuses on educational issues, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

It is unclear which organization will be the beneficiary of Mr. Lucas's money. But Mr. Lucas currently serves as the chairman of Edutopia, and eonline.com speculates that will likely be his choice.

Edutopia is a website run by the the George Lucas Educational Foundation, and looks to transform the learning process through innovation and new strategies in the classroom. It helps educators implement six core learning strategies, and states that those who follow them are "empowering students to think critically, access and analyze information, creatively problem solve, work collaboratively, and communicate with clarity and impact." The six strategies include project-based learning, technology integration and teacher development.

The website also produces a Schools That Work series, which profiles districts and programs that are improving the way students learn.

Mr. Lucas's pledge to an educational foundation serves as an extension to his charitable work.

"I am dedicating the majority of my wealth to improving education," he wrote in 2010 on the Giving Pledge website, an organization that invites the wealthiest American to commit their wealth to philanthropic causes.

"It is the key to the survival of the human race. We have to plan for our collective future – and the first step begins with the social, emotional, and intellectual tools we provide to our children. As humans, our greatest tool for survival is our ability to think and to adapt – as educators, storytellers, and communicators our responsibility is to continue to do so."