St. Aug receives $1.5M donation from Twitter CEO

By Fritz Esker
Contributing Writer

St. Augustine High School received a $1.5 million gift from Twitter co-founder and CEO Jack Dorsey’s #StartSmall initiative last week. This is the largest one-time donation ever made to the school.

“We cannot overstate the power and reach of this transformational and game-changing gift from Mr. Jack Dorsey and #StartSmall,” said Dr. Kenneth St. Charles, St. Augustine’s president and CEO. “This gift allows our school and students to continue to have a tremendous impact not only on our local and regional communities but on our entire nation…His (Dorsey’s) support reaffirms the impact that our school has had in the past, and the unlimited potential we will continue to have not only in the African-American community but the society at large.”

Twitter’s head of sports partnerships, T.J. Adeshola, visited the St. Augustine campus in January and was impressed by what he saw, praising “the confidence, ambition and passion exhibited by each of the young men.”

Dr. St. Charles said the money will be used in a variety of ways. He said the school is almost 68 years old and needs facility upgrades to classrooms and science labs. He hopes to build St. Aug’s STEM program, and this money can help provide better technology and be used to recruit and retain highly qualified teachers to the school.

“These are things that the kids need to be fully prepared for college and beyond,” said Dr. St. Charles.

Some of the funds will also be used to assist St. Augustine families in need. Many New Orleanians are now out of work due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including parents of St. Augustine students who may have trouble paying tuition now. Dr. St. Charles said an emergency fund will be created to aid these students.

“We’re working on some creative ways to assist our families,” said Dr. St. Charles.

Aside from Adeshola’s January visit, St. Augustine alum and local attorney Gary Johnson (Class of ’03) sent a direct message to Dorsey on Twitter in March after reading an article about Dorsey’s philanthropic efforts for individuals experiencing financial hardship during the pandemic. He expressed concerns about financial challenges faced by both the school and its students’ families during the pandemic and spoke of how much his alma mater meant to him and other Black families.

“I am unsure what affects my letter had on Mr. Dorsey giving the school $1.5 million,” Johnson said. “However, as a man of faith, I believe the universe has a way of making your prayers and dreams come true…I believe this money is only the beginning of what St. Augustine will raise in the coming days, months, and years as many wealthy individuals and corporations are being inspired to invest in young Black men.”

Dr. St. Charles echoed Johnson’s sentiments, saying that he hopes Dorsey’s generosity inspires other people to support worthy causes as the country struggles to recover from the pandemic.

St. Augustine High School was founded in 1951, and has built a strong legacy in New Orleans over the years. Johnson said his St. Augustine education played a big role in shaping the man and attorney he has become.

“St. Augustine holds a special place in my heart and in my life. Our brotherhood has provided me with lifelong friendships and an essential network for my professional career. St. Augustine is more than just a high school, but a beacon of hope for so many young Black men and their families,” said Johnson.

This article originally published in the June 22, 2020 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.