Actor Leonardo DiCaprio has announced the creation of the Leonardo DiCaprio Scholarship fund and the Climate Justice Education Program at the UCLA Lab School, where he was once a

scholarship student himself. The programs will commence in the upcoming school year.

DiCaprio expressed his gratitude for having attended the Lab School through the support of UCLA donors, stating that his experience had a profound impact on his worldview. He aims to pass on this opportunity to others who might otherwise miss out and to contribute to the development of a program that will guide the next generation of climate advocates.

The UCLA Lab School focuses on providing innovative educational techniques to students aged 4 to 12 and welcomes external teachers for study purposes.

DiCaprio's scholarship fund will support students in need of financial aid, continuing the tradition he benefited from during his time at the school in the 1980s. The fund also aligns with the school's goal of maintaining diversity, as around 40% of its students require financial assistance.

In addition, the climate education program will offer comprehensive instruction on climate change science, policies, and leadership to students from pre-Kindergarten through sixth grade. Situated next to a creek amid redwoods on the UCLA campus, the school aims to create an immersive environment for hands-on environmental education.

Dr. Eric Esrailian, a professor in UCLA's Health Sciences department and a longtime friend of DiCaprio, emphasized that these programs will equip children with the knowledge and skills needed for a sustainable and healthy future for themselves and the planet.

While the exact donation amounts were not disclosed, officials stated that the impact of these programs will extend to future generations of students.

UCLA Chancellor Gene Block expressed the institution's commitment to expanding access to quality education and fostering environmental awareness, highlighting the significance of these goals.

DiCaprio, renowned for his roles in films such as "Titanic," "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," and "The Revenant," will next appear in the movie "Killers of the Flower Moon," directed by frequent collaborator Martin Scorsese. Photo by Georges Biard, Wikimedia commons.