Stephen Colbert Announces $26,000 Donation by Jimmy Fallon to Art Projects

DonorsChoose.org, an online charity connecting donors to classrooms in need, announced today that more than 100 school art projects are receiving $52,000 in funding from the sale of a Stephen Colbert portrait and a matching donation from Jimmy Fallon.

The portrait of Colbert was enhanced by renowned artists Frank Stella, Andres Serrano and Shepard Fairey during a December 8 episode of The Colbert Report featuring Steve Martin.

"We're doing this for children," Colbert reminded bidders as he commandeered the microphone at the Phillips de Pury auction of his portrait and other works of contemporary art. "If you're not raising your paddle it means you hate children."

The portrait went for $26,000, all of which will go to school art projects on DonorsChoose.org, a nonprofit organization of which Stephen Colbert is a board member.
Afterward, Stephen Colbert made a surprise announcement. "I am happy and thrilled to report that my best friend for six months, Jimmy Fallon, will be matching that $26,000 to DonorsChoose.org. Wow, that is a lot of money. You are a good man, Jimmy."

The Combined total of $52,000 will completely fund more than 100 art projects on DonorsChoose.org, delivering arts education resources to 3,000 students and teachers in high-need public schools.

"We're floored by Jimmy Fallon's incredible donation and have already started to fulfill art projects on our site," said Charles Best, founder of DonorsChoose.org. "Teachers and students are elated. Stephen Colbert's proceeds and Jimmy Fallon's spectacular match are cause for celebration in many a classroom."

About DonorsChoose.org
Founded in 2000, DonorsChoose.org is a nonprofit website where public school teachers describe specific educational projects for their students, and donors can choose the projects they want to support. After completing a project, the donor hears back from the classroom they supported in the form of photographs and student thank-you letters.
To date, 165,000 public and charter school teachers have used the site to secure funding for $80 million in books, art supplies, technology, and other resources that their students need to learn.

Photo Credit: BWW-Staff