Oprah, others join George and Amal Clooney in donating big bucks to Florida students' gun protest
Hollywood do-gooders George and Amal Clooney’s $500,000 donation to support the survivors of the school shooting in Parkland, Fla., has prompted others to open their wallets.
On Tuesday, the couple pledged to contribute the substantial sum to March for Our Lives, a protest that Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students have planned for March 24 in Washington, D.C., to demand stricter gun laws.
“Our family will be there on March 24 to stand side by side with this incredible generation of young people from all over the country, and in the name of our children, Ella and Alexander, we’re donating $500,000 to help pay for this groundbreaking event,” they said in a statement to Yahoo Entertainment. “Our children’s lives depend on it.”
Within hours, other familiar names threw their weight behind the cause too.
George and Amal, I couldn’t agree with you more. I am joining forces with you and will match your $500,000 donation to ‘March For Our Lives.’ These inspiring young people remind me of the Freedom Riders of the 60s who also said we’ve had ENOUGH and our voices will be heard.
— Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) February 20, 2018
Director Steven Spielberg and his actress wife, Kate Capshaw, praised the young activists, and also promised a big check.
“The young students in Florida and now across the country are already demonstrating their leadership with a confidence and maturity that belies their ages,” said Capshaw and Spielberg. “Kate and I applaud their efforts to take a stand for the benefit of this and future generations. They are an inspiration to us all, and we are joining in this movement with a donation of $500,000.”
Former studio head Jeffrey Katzenberg and his wife also stepped up to meet the Clooneys.
“Marilyn and I are proud to stand with the brave young leaders from Parkland, Florida, who have taken their pain and grief and turned it into action,” he said in a statement, reported in Deadline. “We will join Amal and George Clooney on March 24 to stand alongside these remarkable young people. We are also donating $500,000 to March for Our Lives to support this historic event.”
With a month to go before the protest, expect more high-dollar contributions to the cause.
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