Showing that Conservatives are willing to put their money where their mouth is, one of the city's most successful charter schools got a big boost last night toward building a new home.
At a star-studded benefit concert at the Apollo Theater, News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch -- owner of the New York Post -- made a surprise, $5.5 million donation to the Harlem Village Academy, a high-performing school serving grades 5 through 10.
Deborah Kenny, CEO of a network of college preparatory schools that includes Harlem Village, said the money would go a long way toward securing a high-school building for the academy.
"We were overjoyed for the children in Harlem, who are going to have a high-quality high school for this community," said Kenny, who added that Murdoch has "been passionate about education for a very long time."
"The children deserve this," she added.
Charter schools receive no funding for construction, which has forced dozens of them to spend operational funds, which otherwise would be used to educate kids, on leasing or constructing classroom space.
The fund-raising benefit gala was hosted by actor Hugh Jackman -- who emceed the Oscars award show earlier this year -- and featured performances by R&B stars John Legend and Patti LaBelle.
Murdoch, who was introduced onstage by former New York Giant running back and Harlem Village Academy board member Tiki Barber, pitched $500,000 of the donation as a challenge grant to help encourage additional contributions.
"They're setting higher standards for schools in the whole community," Murdoch said of the academy. "I just wish we had more facilities."
LEONARD GREENE and YOAV GONEN, NY Post, 5/8/09
