Photo credit: Marvel Studios
The Walt Disney Company (owner of Marvel Studios) is celebrating “Black Panther’s” box office success by donating $1 million dollars to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. The donation, announced by Disney on Monday, will reportedly help expand the organization’s STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) programs.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the donation will also help “establish new STEM Centers of Innovation in 12 communities across the country.” These communities include: Baltimore, Chicago, Harlem, New Orleans, Atlanta, and Oakland, the same city where tech-savvy teenage princess Shuri (Letitia Wright) was assigned to oversee the Wakandan science initiative.
Photo credit: Marvel Studios
“From hands-on interactive programs to critical thinking, Boys & Girls Clubs of America is committed to providing thousands of young people with the tools they need to prepare for a great future,” said Jim Clark, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “Thanks to Disney’s support, we can expand our outreach and allow more youth to find their passions and discover STEM careers.”
Disney CEO Bob Iger said in a statement: “Marvel Studios’ Black Panther is a masterpiece of movie making and has become an instant cultural phenomenon, sparking discussion, inspiring people young and old, and breaking down age-old industry myths. It is thrilling to see how inspired young audiences were by the spectacular technology in the film, so it’s fitting that we show our appreciation by helping advance STEM programs for youth, especially in underserved areas of the country, to give them the knowledge and tools to build the future they want.”
Black Panther himself, Chadwick Boseman, took to Twitter to also thank the CEO and Disney for their donation.
The #BlackPanther movie-ment continues. Thank you to @RobertIger & @Disney for donating $1 MILLION to the @BGCA_Clubs so they can expand their youth STEM programs. You can never go wrong when you invest in kid’s futures. ♀️ ♂️ #WakandaForever https://t.co/geVtXRREVm pic.twitter.com/z8SUv7V1G5
— Chadwick Boseman (@chadwickboseman) February 26, 2018
If you didn’t know by now, “Black Panther” is much more than a movie, it’s a movement.