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NJCU graduate students Maria Morgana and Susan Saab, who both teach at the McKinley School in North Bergen, received a surprise donation of $50,000 to build a library and media center from TV celebrity Ellen DeGeneres when the teachers recently appeared on the “”.

Morgana is earning a master's degree in Educational Technology. Saab is earning her master's in the Reading Specialist Program, within the Literacy Education Department at NJCU.  

McKinley School students mounted a social media campaign to promote events for a “Read Across America” campaign in February and asked DeGeneres to come to the school to read with them.

Instead, the talk show host invited Morgana and Saab to Los Angeles to appear with DeGeneres on her show. Morgana described for the audience the love and commitment she felt for her students, but explained some of her low-income students had to sometimes go without basic necessities, such as breakfast.

Minutes later, DeGeneres announced $25,000 was being donated from Walmart and Feeding America to help the McKinley School. Then, the show displayed a live shot from the McKinley School, where Morgana’s students were presented with another $25,000 check.

Of the gift and her television appearance, Morgana said in an email, “Wow!! I cannot express how incredible this experience has been and how grateful I am for the outpouring of love and support.”

“This day not only changed the lives of myself and my students but for students for generations to come. I get to direct the funds,” Morgana said. “We are getting a library/media center!” at the McKinley School.