On April 21, 2009, comedian Stephen Colbert moderated an education panel at New York's Manhattan Bridges High School in which the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced a grant of $4.1 million to nonprofit DonorsChoose.org. Colbert, a board member and supporter of the charity, explained how this online organization allows teachers to request needed funding from individual donors for classroom projects not covered by school budgets.
Teachers and students from Manhattan Bridges discussed how DonorsChoose.org donations have benefitted their classrooms. Vicki Phillips, director of the foundation's Education initiative, explained how this grant was right in line with the foundation's goals of getting all students in the United States college-ready.
A highlights video of this event is also available.