Stung by recent protests over allegations of tax dodging (story), U2 has made a substantial donation to music education for Irish students.  The $7.2 million the band is turning over will go to provide instruments and help subsidize instructor positions in the face of big cuts to extra-curricular programs by the government.  The director of Music generation, an organization bankrolled by U2, deflected suggestions that the initiative from the band has anything to do with counteracting recent criticism over the group's decision to shift its business operations to the Netherlands in a money saving move, saying, 'U2 had been looking for some time for a way to invest and support access to music education in Ireland. (They) wanted to give something back.' The group wrapped-up the highest grossing tour in Rock history a few weeks ago (story), and reports recently emerged that the stake Bono's investment firm has in Facebook is approaching a valuation of a billion dollars.
Gibson.com

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