Tom Hanks Pays Six-Digit Homage To His High School

Posted Thursday, April 5, 2001 at 1:00 PM Central

by Heather Koehler

Super celebrity Tom Hanks wrote Skyline High School a $125,000 check recently to help renovate the auditorium where his acting career took flight.

Not only did the Cast Away star write a check, but promised to attend the grand opening of the theater in 2002. There will be a price on a ticket to the grand event though. A ticket and your name carved on a seat in the auditorium will cost each patron $100. If you want to up the ante, you an get two tickets, two seats and a letter of thanks signed by Forrest Gump himself for a little donation of $1000.

Tom did make one request to his alma madder. He wants the school to name the new auditorium after Rawley Farnsworth, the retired drama teacher whom Tom attributes much of his acting success too. Quite an easy nod for $125,000, don't you think?