Kai Z FengA little over a year ago, in the wake of Flint, Michigan’s water emergency, Bruno Mars announced at a concert in Auburn Hills, Michigan, “Tonight, I want to donate $1 million to our brothers and sisters in Flint.” Now, the results of his generous donation — and how it’s helping the children of Flint — have been revealed.
According to ABC affiliate WJRT-TV in Flint, about $580,000 of Bruno’s money has been spent so far. It’s gone towards building two playgrounds, refinishing basketball courts, rebuilding the tennis courts at a local park, and supporting Michigan State University’s pediatric public health initiative.
The Community Foundation of Greater Flint has created a video to show the singer the impact he’s made over the past year; in it, a group of kids are seem smiling and saying, “Thank you, Bruno Mars!”
The head of the foundation, Isaiah Oliver, says Bruno wanted to decide where his money was spent, so they worked with him and his team to fund the projects, which are all designed to help kids who’ve been poisoned by the lead in Flint’s water.
And how do playgrounds and basketball courts help that cause? Oliver explains it’s because lead poisoning affects kids’ cognitive development.
“What we know is unstructured play is probably the best cognitive development for 0 to 6 year olds. So why not build out spaces to have that happen?” Oliver says.
Oliver says the Foundation is extremely grateful that Bruno, who’s from Hawaii, felt strongly enough about what has happening in the city that he wanted to help.
“He’s probably never stepped foot in Flint…but he cared enough about what was happening to our community at that time…to support us and give us hugs by way of a large gift.”
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