Wealthy philanthropists concerned about America's future are paying more attention and money to public schools, the New York Times reports.

An increasing amount of money is being donated to high schools and their students from such "high-profile donors" as Bill Gates, who recently donated $1 billion to fund scholarship programs for minority students. Eli Broad, chairman and chief executive officer of the SunAmerica financial services firm, is another example of such philanthropists with his $100 million donation to train faculty and staff of urban school systems.

These men have been preceded by Eugene Lang -- who "adopted" 54 Harlem grade-schoolers in 1981, agreeing to send them to college if they kept up their grades -- and Walter H. Annenberg, who in the last six years has donated more than $800 million to public school improvement.

Lang's efforts have been continued and expanded by his I Have A Dream Foundation, while Annenberg finances school and child-development programs through the Annenberg Foundation.

Wall Street financier Theodore J. Forstmann is also helping less fortunate students. The Times report indicates that he has given $50 million towards the $200-million Children's Scholarship Fund effort to help inner-city public school students obtain vouchers to attend parochial and private schools.

Although the motives for these gifts vary, the Times reports that many donors say they feel that government hasn't done enough to help the public school system. But the report states that many of the wealthy believe that "an educated work force" will help their businesses succeed.

Public education has historically been viewed as the taxpayers' responsibility, but issues surrounding the public school students seem to be too much for the government to handle, the article reports.

Schools nationwide have been requesting more government money for computer equipment, teacher training and smaller class sizes. Equally as important, the Times reports, is "closing the gap between rich and poor students."

That is one of the goals of the Gates' $1 billion gift, which is to provide scholarships to high-school students that need them the most. The gifts will be administered through the United Negro College Fund, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and the American Indian College Fund.

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