What Will Johnny Depp’s Donation Buy?

Published January 22, 2013    By Partnership

So, here is what happened…  Johnny Depp recently donated $25,000 to the Navajo Nation to be used for college scholarships. The tribe voted to allocate those funds to vocational education scholarships. But, predictably, public reaction regarding Depp’s donation is mixed.

Some people are outraged and offended and consider the donation paltry and an insult to Native Americans. Others are vocal about their gratitude for such a gift from Mr. Depp, including the President of the Navajo Nation. Still others are more focused on a Native American, not Johnny Depp, portraying Tonto in the new Lone Ranger movie. But Natives portraying Natives in Hollywood is an altogether different topic, which I will leave for another time.

Here is how I feel about Johnny Depp’s donation:  The cost of education is high and rising every year. And, despite what many Americans have been told, Native Americans do not get a free ride to college. So, his $25,000 donation will definitely make a difference for those Navajo students attending vocational school. I also want to make people aware that, sometimes, even $100 can make a difference between having books for your classes or not. So, Mr. Depp’s generous donation is anything but paltry, since it can assist the cost of post-secondary education for many, many students. It is a very kind gesture from an unselfish individual.

Through personal experience and my work with the American Indian Education Foundation, I am very aware of the pressing need for scholarships; they make post-secondary education possible for many Native Americans. College is a life-changing opportunity, if you can afford it. Unfortunately, many students in our service area cannot. This makes clear that any amount donated to Native Americans for education, from Johnny Depp or anybody, is much needed and welcomed. Moreover, in my experience, the students benefitting from such generosity are extremely grateful for such acts of kindness and become inspired to “pay it forward” after they finish their post-secondary education.

So, you see, Johnny Depp’s donation thus becomes a catalyst for something much greater than simply $25,000. The resulting scholarships will help to transform a student’s dream of a college education into reality, and ultimately, work to transform inspired ideas into action. And what is the value of positive change in any community?  Priceless.