Airbnb co-founder donates $1M to a Dorchester school

Nathan Blecharczyk and his wife, Dr. Elizabeth Blecharczyk, announced during a Massachusetts STEM Week 2019 event on October 21st, 2019, that they would make a $1 million donation to Boston Latin Academy (BLA) located in the neighborhood of Dorchester.

The contribution from Blecharczyk, who is a co-founder of the home rental company Airbnb and 2001 BLA graduate, would be used to create two new computer labs and fund STEM education initiatives, the Public School district stated in a press release submitted. The couple also announced that they would match the dollar amount of any future gifts made to the school, up to a total of $1 million.

“Elizabeth and I are grateful for the education we received. In my case, right here at Boston Latin Academy. This school not only challenged me as a student, but it’s also where I learned the fundamental good habits that have propelled me to success,” Nathan Blecharczyk said. “Through our support today, we want to give BLA and its teacher, additional resources to open the doors of our rapidly growing tech economy. We hope our commitment will inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators right here at BLA to see and invest in their full potential.”

“It’s inspiring for our students to see a Boston Public Schools (BPS) graduate achieve the kind of incredible success Mr. Blecharczyk has had,” BPS Superintendent Brenda Cassellius said during the event. “It’s even more inspiring for them to see him return to his roots to share his success in a way that creates more learning opportunities for them. His generosity and example will encourage our students to continue pursuing their dreams, and hopefully encourage other STEM industries in our backyard to explore creative partnership opportunities.”

Founded in 1878, the Boston Latin Academy is a public school located at 205 Townsend Street, Dorchester, MA 02121).