George Lucas, chairman and CEO of Lucasfilm, is handing over Lucasfilm and its Star Wars creations to Disney for $4 billion, making it Disney’s fourth largest buyout ever. Disney plans to release a seventh Star Wars film in 2015, and Disney CEO Robert Iger has also proposed the idea of bringing Star Wars to television. Disney plans to incorporate more Star Wars in their parks, possibly creating new parks as well.

George Lucas

George Lucas
Image: Richard Lewis/European Pressphoto Agency

Lucas, planning to retire, has decided to donate all of the $4 billion to a foundation dedicated to education. The foundation that will receive this gracious donation has not yet been announced, and everyone is itching to know where these funds will go. Word on the street is that Lucas will be donating the money to his own foundation for education.

Lucas currently serves as the chairman of Edutopia, also known as the George Lucas Educational Foundation. The foundation is committed to improving K-12 education by “by documenting, disseminating, and advocating for innovative, replicable, and evidence-based strategies that prepare students to thrive in their future education, careers, and adult lives.”

George Lucus believes that education in the key to our democracy and believes that education is essential for children to reach their full potential. Lucas also believes that it is imperative to support sharing of innovative practices and collaboration amongst researchers and educators. George Lucas is an advocate of project-based learning and curriculums that are engaging, motivating, and relevant to real life.

It is great to see a man that is kicking off the next chapter in his life with a gracious donation that will be sure to make an impact in education for children.

Resources:

http://www.edutopia.org/word-from-george-lucas-edutopias-role-in-education

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2012/10/30/disney-star-wars-lucasfilm/1669739/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/02/george-lucas-donate-4-billion_n_2067145.html

Cover Image: 401(K) 2012