News of Stephen Colbert's Generosity Goes Viral, Spurs More Donations Nationwide

News of Stephen Colbert's surprise announcement that he was teaming with Donorschoose.org to fund every single teacher-requested grant in South Carolina went mega-viral yesterday. All the attention to the story brought about something else rather extraordinary—readers funding teacher-requested grants nationwide. Reddit users were particularly keen to help and as of last night, these projects were funded:

- FL Kindergarten teacher needs a carpet $147 to go
- NC Middle School Teacher needs calculators $169 to go
- NYC ESL teacher needs basic supplies $195 to go
- MO teacher needs basic supplies $128
- Louisiana teacher needs copies of "Of Mice and Men" $298 to go
- NC teacher needs basic supplies $92 to go
- NY teacher needs industrial pencil sharpener $168 to go
- MA teacher needs STEM activities $193 to go
- NYC teacher needs calculators $99 to go
- NYC teacher needs basic supplies $175 to go
- Las Vegas teacher needs copies of Dr. Suess $122 to go
- IN teacher needs roll down maps $179 to go
- TX teacher needs a rocket launcher $337 to go
- Louisiana teacher needs a microscope $131 to go
- Chicago teacher needs music for band $235 to go
- NC Math teacher needs basic supplies $507 to go
- NC middle school teacher needs science lab materials $484 to go
- CA teacher needs AP Bio supplies $1279 to go
- NYC teacher needs basic supplies $121 to go
- Philly teacher needs basic supplies $233 to go
- NC teacher needs copies of "To Kill a Mockingbird" $476 to go
- TX teacher needs basic phys ed supplies $444 to go
- FL teacher needs recess supplies $145 to go
- Philly teacher needs copy paper $203 to go
- MI teacher needs a set of Hardy Boy Books $189 to go
- OR mobile library for special needs students needs books $130 to go
- NYC teacher needs STEM books $310
- NYC teacher needs first grade books $299
- OH Preschool teacher to deaf students needs educational toys $158 to go
- WA teacher needs play equipment $324 to go
- CA special ed teacher needs playdoh $118 to go.
- Baltimore teacher needs drums $134 to go
- NC teacher needs Dr. Suess books $146 to go
- IN teacher needs glue and markers $98 to go
- MS teacher needs basic supplies $73 to go
- WA teacher needs basic supplies $186 to go
- CA teacher needs basic art supplies $171 to go
- FL teacher needs basic supplies $149 to go
- NM teacher needs basic supplies $172 to go
- TN teacher needs crayons $119 to go
- NJ teacher needs carpet squares $137 to go
- TX teacher needs math tools $172 to go
- KY teacher needs STEM materials $91 to go
- AR teacher needs a xylophone $288 to go
- NC teacher needs copies of "I am Malala" $400 to go.
- CA teacher needs copies of "Frankenstein" $546 to go
- PA teacher needs copies of Romeo and Juliet $290 to go
- TX teacher needs a world map rug $321 to go
- CA school librarian needs manga $201 to go
- CT teacher needs basic art supplies and heaphones $221
- NY librarian needs graphic novels $210 to go
- Philly teacher needs art supplies $522 to go
- MO teacher needs a carpet $362 to go
- CA teacher needs student microscopes $195 to go
- IN teacher needs basic supplies $222
- CA teacher needs a rocket launcher $468 to go (it's not just Texas that likes to launch rockets)
- Chicago special ed teacher needs math toys $264 to go
- MN teacher needs math tools $195 to go
- IN teacher needs pencil sharpener $78 to go

As many have noted, Colbert's donation is amazing and appreciated, but it is such a shame that our teachers and schools aren't properly funded in the first place. Underpaid teachers nationwide dig into their own pockets on a regular basis to pay for the most basic needs of their students.

Daily Show writer Daniel Radosh sums it up:

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