George Lucas Donates Millions to Chicago Students

George Lucas is giving the world much more than new "Star Wars" films. He's also giving Chicago students an opportunity to prepare for their future.

The filmmaker and his wife, businesswoman Mellody Hobson, donated $25 million to After School Matters, a non-profit organization that offers Chicago teens the chance to develop their talents and skills, and discover their passions.

The money will be donated by the George Lucas Family Foundation, and will be paid in $5 million installments over the next five years. The funds will go to stipends that help low-income teens participate in the program.

"George and I are just really excited to make this gift to the teens of Chicago... because we believe - and you all know that I'm in the investment business - that investing in young people is the best investment of all," said Hobson.

Lucas is connected to program through Hobson, the Chair of After School Matters board. The two have been together for several years and wed this summer at Lucas' Skywalker Ranch in California, followed by a reception in the Windy City.

"This is a very generous thing that he's doing for the adopted city that he spends a lot of time in now, Chicago," she said. "I'm sure he never imagined that in all of his creative brain."

Lucas is, of course, best known for creating the "Star Wars" franchise and for his innovations in filmmaking, but he's also quite a philanthropist. Last year, he pledged $4 billion to his education charity after selling Lucasfilm Ltd. to Disney.

"I am dedicating the majority of my wealth to improving education," he said at the time. "It is the key to the survival of the human race. We have to plan for our collective future -- and the first step begins with the social, emotional, and intellectual tools we provide to our children. As humans, our greatest tool for survival is our ability to think and to adapt - as educators, storytellers, and communicators our responsibility is to continue to do so."

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