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We Day Leaves Students Excited, Motivated

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – In the last year, Minnesota kids participating in We Day projects have spent 14.6 million hours volunteering, and collected 5.6 million pounds of food.

This was no ordinary school day.

And these are no ordinary students.

They came from 475 schools across Minnesota for an electrifying lesson about empowerment, and a reminder that you don't have to be an adult to make a difference in the world.

"I just think this is so cool and it's really inspiring to hear everybody talk. It definitely makes me want to do more for my community," Sigourney Orstid from Shoreview said.

"I really like how people who help people get rewards for this," Ninchai Nokchiclana from White Bear Lake said.

They were already over the moon, and then something amazing happened.

Basketball legend Magic Johnson announced a $1 million donation to the group that started We Day, Free the Children.

His donation will support educational programs for families in East Africa.

"I've seen how all these people are giving around the world. Magic Johnson and his million dollars! That was really great. I think I might donate some money," Eiel Wiel from Blaine said.

"That was really cool. I thought that was a really good way to get kids motivated," Lindsey Becker from Shoreview said.

After five hours of dancing, clapping and listening, the students filed out of the Xcel Energy Center ready to take on the world a little bit at a time.

Students At We Day Leave Excited About Future

Magic Johnson challenged the kids to really think about the less fortunate this Christmas, to donate the gifts they receive to other kids or to make a donation to a charity.

Many of those students have already completed their community service project with their classmates, but others are still working on them. They do something local and something global.

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