Obama Donates Share of Nobel Prize Cash to College-Oriented Charities

President Obama will donate his $1.4-million award from winning the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize to a range of nonprofit organizations, including several that offer college scholarships, the White House announced today. The president is dividing the prize money among 10 charities, six of which are college-oriented. College Summit, which aims to prepare elementary- and middle-school students to attend college, will receive $125,000. Five foundations offering college scholarships -- the Posse Foundation, which gives four-year full-tuition scholarships to public high-school students; the United Negro College Fund; the Hispanic Scholarship Fund; the Appalachian Leadership and Education Foundation; and the American Indian College Fund -- will receive $125,000 apiece.

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Comments

1. handley - March 12, 2010 at 08:32 am

Classy move by the Prez.

2. jaysanderson - March 12, 2010 at 10:43 am

Nice effort, but it won't ease his conscience over having done nothing to merit the award.

3. rick1952 - March 13, 2010 at 08:50 am

I agree with handley (#1) - classy move and setting a good example for the rest of us. Share the wealth we are fortunate enough to acquire in ways that actually can help others improve their lives.

jayanderson - No need to second-guess the Nobel Committee's decision and I would refrain from making judgments about Obama's conscience. So far, whether you agree or not with his political decisions as president, it is clear to me that he is acting conscientiously with a genuine commitment to promoting the common good. That is a refreshing change from what most of our other political leaders are doing. That merits recognition of some kind. (BTW - I did not start out as an Obama supporter.)