Back to school spree: Billionaire, feds give out $175M to aid neediest students around the state....

[brendan120678]

Back to school spree: Billionaire, feds give out $175M to aid neediest students around the state

A $200 back-to-school giveaway for needy kids sparked a mad rush for money on the streets of New York on Tuesday.

"It's free money!" said Alecia Rumph, 26, who waited in a Morris Park, Bronx, line 300 people deep for the cash to buy uniforms and book bags for her two kids.

"Thank God for Obama. He's looking out for us."

Thousands of people lined up at banks and check-cashing shops to withdraw the cash that magically appeared on their electronic benefit cards.

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The no-strings-attached money went to families receiving food stamps or welfare.

Every child between 3 and 17 was eligible for $200, which worked out to 813,845 kids across the state - including 498,866 in the city.

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Billionaire philanthropist George Soros gave $35 million toward the program, with $140 million in federal stimulus funds routed through state government making up the rest.

Excerpted from NY Daily News: http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2009/08/12/2009-08-12_billionaire_feds_give_out_175m_to_aid_neediest_students_around_the_state_its_fre.html

I know -- not a great source. Other sources also found here:
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local-beat/Free-Money-Sends-Families-Running-Out-the-Door-53032792.html
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111786652
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/08/nyregion/08soros.html