Apple CEO Tim Cook had donated $100,000 to the Alabama high school he attended to aid in purchasing new instruments for the school’s band.
Alabama news outlet Al.com reports that the gift, to the Robertsdale High School band, was used by the Baldwin county public School system to purchase 28 new instruments for students. Instruments purchased included flutes, horns, and tubas.
“These instruments will enhance the entire band and provide instruments to students this year and for many years to come. The Robertsdale band continues to grow every year and with that the needs of the group,” said Chastity Reddick.
Cook graduated from Robertsdale High School in 1978, where he played trombone in the band during his years there.
The Baldwin County School District has a remaining $40,000 to raise to help the program, but school officials say they are grateful for the gift.
“We are speechless. Due to our growth, we found ourselves in a situation where we didn’t have enough instruments for this coming fall. We would have had more students than instruments, and needed $140,000 to make this happen,” said band director LT Hughes in a Facebook post on Wednesday.
Cook has a history of supporting students at his alma mater. In 2021, the Apple chief executive started a scholarship program to provide monetary aid to students.
