San Francisco based Ripple donates $29M to schools across country

SAN FRANCISCO (KTVU) - EAST PALO ALTO, Calif. (KTVU) - Ripple, the San Francisco based crypto-currency company, just donated $29 million for every teacher's wish list on the site DonorsChoose.org. 

Ripple covered 35,000 classroom projects on the list that helped schools across the country - including some here in the Bay Area. 

KTVU's Ann Rubin stopped by Ravenswood Middle School in East Palo Alto where the money is having a big impact on the music program. 

"Music programs can be really expensive to fund. And I can't stomach asking the district for everything we need. But I still want a really good opportunity for my students," said music teacher Sarah Moulder. 

Instruments and sheet music are expensive. Reeds, valve oil and bow grips add up too.

Moulder had four requests on the site Tuesday, when they were all funded by Ripple. 

In the Ravenswood District in East Palo Alto, nearly half of the students are homeless. Nearly all qualify for free or reduced price lunch. Administrators say the impact of a gift like this is enormous.

Among the requests paid off by Ripple across the country include 3,500 computers, 2,800 packs of construction paper, 270 calculators - and the list goes on. 

Ripple said they wanted to thank teachers across the nation for the hard work they do each day.

At  Ravenswood Middle School Ripple's donation means there's a new viola, and new uniforms on the way.

Students and teachers say they're grateful to Ripple for helping them get the tools they need to make music.

"I have no words. I can't imagine $29 million. I can't even fathom that amount of money. I don't understand how somebody could be so generous and take care of so many classrooms. I'm excited for all these teachers across the country who get to do all these wonderful things with their kids."

Of course the school district says there are always more needs to be met. In fact they posted a new request on donorschoose.org Wednesday.