TV Show Gives LBHS Class $20G in Supplies

Story by Rosemary Leonetti.

REAL Change Productions, in partnership with Office Depot and the Adopt-A-Classroom program, visited the Long Beach High School classroom of Dr. Andrew Smith as part of the REAL Change Project and made generous donations on Feb. 24. 

Long Beach graduate (1996) and REAL Change producer Liam Murphy has been working on this project for six years, connecting superstar celebrities, including Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, Pitbull, Lady Antebellum, LMFAO and Jason Mraz, with their hometown schools in an effort to give back to those who helped them get their successful start.

Murphy visited Long Beach High School with Office Depot and the Adopt-A-Classroom program to donate $20,000 worth of school supplies, including 30 Samsung tablets, a printer, printer paper, notebooks, pens, pencils and folders to help rebuild and replenish supplies following the devastation of Superstorm Sandy. In addition, Adopt-A-Classroom has pledged to donate $125 to every Long Beach teacher who registers with the Adopt-A-Classroom program.

Murphy’s visit to Dr. Smith’s class was captured on film and will be incorporated into a REAL Change telecast. This prime-time nationally televised compilation show will air on April 23 at 7 p.m. on CBS. In addition to the Long Beach High School segment, the telecast will also feature several notable musical artists such as Justin Bieber, Pitbull, Miley Cyrus, Jason Mraz and Quincy Jones, as they visit their hometown classrooms and recognize a teacher who has inspired them.

Starting March 1 and running through May 31, anyone wishing to be part of this special movement can visit www.officedepot.com/realchange to make a donation. Office Depot will match all donations made during this period. Every dollar donated will go directly to aid the adopted classroom.

Murphy and his family are Long Beach natives who have deep ties within the community. His father Jack taught at Long Beach High School for 30 years, his grandmother was a lunchroom monitor, and Liam is passionate in supporting his district, as well as schools in need throughout the country.

“We want people to know that you don’t have to be a rock star to make a difference,” said Murphy. “Anyone can make a difference by adopting a classroom.”