An appearance on NBC’s TODAY show Friday catapulted fundraising efforts on behalf of North Charleston High School Principal Henry Darby, with more than $150,000 raised from private donors on Gofundme and Walmart.
Darby revealed to The Post and Courier earlier this month that he was working an extra job at the big box store to help low-income students at his school. The story prompted many to ask how they can help.
When Darby decided to pick up a shift at Walmart last August, it had nothing to do with boosting his own income. He was looking for a way to help many of the North Charleston students at his school who live below the poverty line. He is also a member of Charleston County Council.
According to the S.C. Department of Education, 87.26% of the students at North Charleston High were living in poverty during the 2017-2018 school year, which is why Darby felt that something needed to be done.
The money Darby earns from his graveyard shift at Walmart goes toward helping his students and their families in many ways from paying for groceries and utilities to college tuition.
During a live segment on TODAY Friday, anchor Craig Melvin — a S.C. native — introduced Darby’s Walmart manager, who presented him a $50,000 donation from the retailer.
In addition to that sum, nearly $110,000 has been raised through two separate Gofundme campaigns set up after the P&C story was published.
Jesse Rone, who set up one of the Gofundme campaigns with his real estate colleague Mason Wright, said he identified with Darby’s story. So far, the two have raised more than $92,000.
“I actually used to work at Walmart on the overnight shift. And so I could really relate to his story of working two jobs and just how hard that is,” Rone told the City Paper on Friday, just after getting his hair cut at the Walmart where Darby works. With Wright, Rone hosts a local video series which showcases local personalities. They hoped they could help, starting the Gofundme to boost Darby’s efforts.
“We oughta feature this guy and maybe try to raise some more awareness of what he’s trying to do with these kids,” Rone remembers saying.
A separate Gofundme has raised another $19,000.
Rone and Wright planned to give Darby a check today for what they raised so far. But since the NBC appearance, their Gofundme for Darby has almost doubled its donation total, so they’re holding off a few more days to see what happens next.
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