LOS ANGELES — Actor Leonardo DiCaprio has pledged to fund scholarships and establish a climate education program at the UCLA Lab School, the very institution where he once attended as a scholarship student. The scholarship initiative, called the Leonardo DiCaprio Scholarship fund, aims to provide financial aid to students in need, ensuring the school maintains its diverse student body. Approximately 40% of the students at UCLA Lab School require financial assistance.
DiCaprio expressed his gratitude for the transformative experience he had at the Lab School and his desire to pass on the same opportunity to others. In a statement to The Associated Press, he said, “I am proud to have the chance to pass on my experience to those who might otherwise miss out on this opportunity and to help create a program that will help guide the next generation of climate warriors.”
The Climate Justice Education Program, a separate initiative, will be launched alongside the scholarship fund. This program aims to educate students, ranging from pre-Kindergarten to sixth grade, about the science of climate change and the necessary policy and leadership to address this global issue. The UCLA Lab School, situated next to a creek amidst redwoods on the university campus, will utilize its unique location to offer hands-on environmental education.
Although the exact donation amounts were not disclosed, the impact of these programs is expected to benefit generations of students. Dr. Eric Esrailian, a professor in UCLA’s Health Sciences department and a close friend of DiCaprio, expressed his belief that the initiatives will lead to a more sustainable and healthy future for both the students and the planet.
UCLA Chancellor Gene Block commended DiCaprio’s commitment, emphasizing that expanding access to quality education and fostering environmental awareness are essential objectives for the institution.
DiCaprio, known for his advocacy on climate issues, is an Academy Award-winning actor renowned for his roles in films such as “Titanic,” “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” “The Revenant,” and “The Departed.” His next project, “Killers of the Flower Moon,” will reunite him with director Martin Scorsese, with whom he has collaborated frequently.