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Hundreds of kids at the Mesa Arts Academy got a big gift from some big names.
NBA All-Star LeBron James, Rapper JAY-Z and singer Beyonce made an appearance at the center Saturday to donate $50,000 worth of musical instruments and a $10,000 check.
The donations come from a partnership with Sprite-Green.
“This is the kind of thing you dream of,” said Ramon Elias, President and CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs.
The Boys and Girls Clubs operate the Academy near 6th Avenue and Robson in Mesa. It is a K-8 charter school offering studies focusing on the arts.
The donation comes as budget cuts loom. Elias says he is not sure how those cuts will impact the school yet.
“While these kids have the passion, we need to capture their attention,” said JAY-Z.
The kids had their pictures taken with their celebrity guests and they even performed a couple of musical numbers as part of the event.
James and JAY-Z are in the Phoenix area in conjunction with the NBA ALL-Star Weekend.
They’ll host their annual Two Kings Dinner event later Saturday evening.
"Even in this difficult economic climate, it's important to recognize the importance and value of philanthropy at the corporate level,'' Blanco said in a news release.
Mesa Arts Academy is a free charter school that integrates the arts into a rigorous academic curriculum for kindergarten to eighth grade students.
