The founder of Snapchat, evan mirror, has brought good news to 285 graduates of the Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles. Together with his wife, model and actress Miranda Kerr, they announced that they will cover the student debt of this class of artists.
This donation, without a total public amount, comes from The Spiegel Family Fund, a philanthropic organization dedicated to the arts, education, human rights and accommodation. However, reports indicate that the contribution of the Spiegel family exceeds the largest donation received by the educational entity, estimated at 10 million dollars.
“Student debt weighs heavily on our diverse and talented graduates,” said Charles Hirschhorn, president of the school, in a statement. “We hope this donation provides much-deserved relief and empowers them to pursue their aspirations and careers, repay this generosity, and become the next leaders in our community.”
This donation comes at a difficult time for education funding, the largest source of debt in the United States behind mortgages. In total, the student loans of 43 million Americans generate an active debt of 1,600 million dollars.
The Spiegel alumnus
The Snapchat CEO mentioned that he spent a stint at Otis College while in high school, just before entering Stanford.
“It changed my life and made me feel at home,” Spiegel told students at the school graduation, according to LA Times. “I felt pushed and challenged to grow up surrounded by super-talented artists and designers, and we were all together.”
Both Spiegel and his wife, the founder of skincare brand Kora Organics, received honorary degrees from Otis College. “It is a privilege for our family to give back and support the Class of 2022, and we hope this gift will enable graduates to pursue their passions, contribute to the world and inspire humanity for years to come.” the couple pointed out to the students.
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