Donation to Cooper High School Honors Philando Castile
Robbinsdale’s Cooper High School just got a big check to pay off lunch debt for its students. Valerie Castile’s foundation paid the debt in memory of her son Philando, who was killed by a St. Anthony police officer. Castile says when Philando worked in a school cafeteria, he’d pay for kids’ lunches out of his pocket if they didn’t have the money.
The $8,000 check will wipe out the lunch debt of just under 100 graduating seniors. School officials say they’re thrilled that the students and their families won’t have to worry about being in debt as they leave high school.
“This is huge for our entire community,” says Superintendant Carlton Jenkins. “This is a generous donation. But it also sends a message about how important it is to have human decency and to serve. And to give.”
The foundation pays lunch debts for other schools too. If you’d like to help, go to their website.