Aside from creating the social networking site, Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg is also one generous celebrity. He has dabbled in philanthropy, but it was his astonishing 100 million dollar donation to Newark Public Schools that got him good press. Critics did note the timing. The Social Network was a critically acclaimed movie that brought negative attention and controversy to Zuckerberg. The movie painted Zuckerberg in a negative light. The dramatic film revealed the early beginnings of Facebook and the lawsuits that occurred thereafter.Soon, Zuckerberg made his donation and landed a spot on Oprah, another generous celebrity in the world of giving. Zuckerberg also signed The Giving Pledge that encouraged the wealthiest people in the country to give most of their money to philanthropy. This campaign targeted America’s billionaires, including Bill Gates and Warren Buffett.
Celebrities giving to charity can be seen as a good public relations move and can be particularly useful when their reputation is being challenged. The movie did challenge Zuckerberg’s ethics in how he gained his wealth. Though the timing may seem convenient for Zuckerberg’s donation, 100 million dollars is still a good chunk of change that can benefit inner city kids in Newark, New Jersey. He already has a history of giving, so it comes to no surprise that Zuckerberg would donate the amount to a good cause. The children in Newark will most definitely benefit from Zuckerberg’s philanthropy. Perhaps, the bigger story isn’t whether Zuckerberg was ethical or unethical, but rather that student’s futures will greatly benefit from the donation.
In the end, Zuckerberg’s donation was for a worthwhile cause. The Social Network may have been a cinematic masterpiece. However, the masterpiece in this case goes to the enhanced lives of Newark students all because of a 100 million dollar donation that may or may not have been a public relations move.