Rapper Eminem and his daughter Hailie have cleared more than Sh90 million in unpaid school-lunch debt across 103 schools, ensuring that thousands of children can enjoy meals at school without worry.
Though scanty details exist about the noble undertaking, Eminem’s gesture, shared widely across social media, attracted an outpouring of praise from fans.
Instagram user forreal_rojas wrote: “This is humanity to me!!”
User fadine_n_b_a added: “That’s why he is the GOAT.”
Another, frekls44, said: “So many people could do this for their communities…”
Miguelgaribay68 commented: “I love this guy. He is a true role model and a good person. May God bless him more.”
In the U.S., the main school-meal system is the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), administered by the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service.
The programme provides free or low-cost lunches to children in public and nonprofit schools, with eligibility based on household income relative to the federal poverty line. Even students above the threshold can still purchase meals at a reduced cost.
NSLP lunches must meet federal nutrition standards, balancing fruits, vegetables, grains and proteins.
Research shows the programme supports school attendance and eases the burden on families by freeing up food for home consumption.
A Georgetown University study found that increasing exposure to the NSLP by 10 percentage points raises educational attainment by 0.365 years for girls and nearly one full year for boys.
Participation in grades seven through twelve showed the strongest impact on schooling, while early-grade participation was linked to improved long-term health outcomes.
Born Marshall Bruce Mathers in 1972, Eminem is widely regarded as one of the most influential rappers of all time.
He is credited with helping popularise hip-hop in Middle America and breaking racial barriers in a genre traditionally dominated by Black artists.
His turbulent personal life, including his struggles growing up with food insecurity, has shaped much of his music and public persona.
Eminem is also known for fiercely defending his children, an attribute that has earned him public admiration as a devoted father.
His latest act of generosity, carried out alongside Hailie, underscores that personal history.
Eminem’s legacy in music is equally formidable: he has won 15 Grammys, 8 American Music Awards, and 17 Billboard Music Awards, among many others.