Zuckerbergs leave parents 'dumbfounded' as they pull plug on lifeline in poor community

Billionaire Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg is yanking support for two private schools he and his wife founded to serve underprivileged communities in the Bay Area, reported The New York Times — blindsiding parents who rely on those schools and leading some to wonder if it has anything to do with President Donald Trump's crusade against diversity policies.

One of these was the Primary School in East Palo Alto, said the report.

Dr. Priscilla Chan, a pediatrician and wife of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, collaborated with her friend and educator Meredith Liu to establish a school in East Palo Alto, California, a diverse community that seldom shares in the prosperity of its affluent Silicon Valley neighbors, according to the report.

"They talked about how low-income children were more likely to have experienced trauma early in life, and how that trauma would have lasting effects. The Primary School, its website declared, tried to overcome the systemic racism and poverty that hurts communities of color," the report said.

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Then, parents suddenly got word this week that the school would shutter next year.

"Emeline Vainikolo said she and other parents were invited by school administrators to a breakfast of bagels, fruit and Starbucks coffee and were abruptly told of the closure, but given no reason. They were left staring at one another 'dumbfounded,' she said," reported Heather Knight, Theodore Schleifer, and Orlando Mayorquín. "Her son, a kindergartner, later relayed a reason that he had gleaned from his teacher, she said. ‘Mommy, the guy who’s been giving money to our school doesn’t want to give it to us anymore,’ he told her."

Zuckerberg has reportedly been divesting from diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives across the board, joining many other Silicon Valley executives in doing so. It comes at a moment when Trump is turning the full might of the government against private companies, including law firms, over their adoption of these policies.

Zuckerberg has historically not been an outspoken supporter of Trump. However, following the 2024 election, he contributed $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund and has committed to setting up his social media platforms with policies closer to those of outspoken pro-Trump tech billionaire Elon Musk.