Melania Trump Says 'Politics' Behind Oklahoma Computer School's Rejection of Offered Donation, Calls Critics of Her Initiatives 'Dream Killers'
Former first lady Melania Trump said she was "disappointed but not surprised" when an Oklahoma computer school rejected her donation.
In a statement she posted on her website on Friday, Melania said the donation was made on behalf of her foundation, Fostering the Future, a Be Best Initiative. The wife of former President Donald Trump started the foundation shortly after her time in the White House.
Melania said this was not the first time her charitable donations have been rejected because of "politics." Melania tried to donate a selection of Dr. Seuss books in 2017 to the Cambridgeport elementary school library in Massachusetts, but school librarian Liz Phipps Soeiro did not accept them, Salon reported.
In rejecting the books, Soeiro said: "You may not be aware of this, but Dr. Seuss is a bit of a cliche, a tired and worn ambassador for children's literature."
Soeiro added that Dr. Seuss's illustrations were also "steeped in racist propaganda, caricatures, and harmful stereotypes" and "many people are unaware" of it.
According to Salon, the rejected donation for the Oklahoma school specializing in advanced computer science skills was Melania's third rejection.
The former first lady noted that a prospective corporate partner also "refused an opportunity to further our shared philanthropic goals surrounding my visit to Africa" in 2018.
Oklahoma Computer School Rejecting Melania Trump's Donation
Melania Trump said the computer science school founded in Silicon Valley with a campus in Oklahoma agreed to work with Fostering the Future.
According to the former first lady, multiple scholarships were going to be granted "through the school's preferred designated fund, based in Tulsa, with the first class of students enrolling in Fall 2022."
Melania said she had signed an agreement detailing the planned contribution and was only waiting for the countersignature when the school told her it would no longer participate.
"They would not accept scholarship dollars for deserving students-even as an anonymous gift. It was made clear to me that the school's Board of Directors organized a politically-motivated decision," she noted.
Donald Trump's wife also said the move was part of an effort to "cancel" her.
"Those who attack my initiatives and create the appearance of impropriety are quite literally dream killers. They have canceled the hopes and dreams of children by trying to cancel me," the former first lady noted.
The New York Times named the education company. It reported that it was the Holberton School, a San Francisco-based education firm with more than 30 schools worldwide specializing in computer science training.
It offers an alternative to traditional college for students who want to become software engineers. The Holberton School opened a location in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 2020.
Julien Barbier, the chief executive of Holberton, confirmed that Melania Trump tried to donate money to the Tulsa school.
Barbier told The New York Times on Friday that they were approached about a scholarship by the former first lady's team but never reached an agreement on the logistics of the scholarship.
Melania Trump Event in Florida Is Under Investigation
A charity event featuring Melania Trump is currently being investigated after organizers promised proceeds to a charity that does not seem to exist.
Donald Trump's wife is scheduled to appear at an "exclusive high tea" event on April 9 in Naples, Florida. Organizers noted that the event would benefit Fostering the Future.
Regular tickets cost $3,000, while limited VIP tickets amount to $50,000. However, it is not immediately known what percentage of the ticket proceeds will be given to charity.
Florida requires any organization that raises charitable contributions in the state to register. However, no charity with the name "Fostering the Future" or "Be Best" can be seen to be registered in Florida.
Erin M. Moffet, an agency spokeswoman, earlier said that the Consumer Services Division is currently probing whether Melania Trump's event is operating in violation of Chapter 496, Florida Statutes. Moffet was referring to the state law requiring charities to register before soliciting proceeds.
This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Mary Webber
WATCH: Melania Trump Event Promises Donations to Charity That Might Not Exist - From David Pakman Show