New York, NY – June 02, 2025, 03:29 AM ET – Fox News star Dana Perino has stunned fans with an extraordinary act of philanthropy, pouring nearly half of her personal savings—estimated at over $3 million—into building a state-of-the-art school for orphans in rural Montana. The The Five co-host, 53, designed the interior to mirror a luxury building, complete with high-end finishes and cutting-edge facilities, transforming the lives of dozens of children in a move that has captured hearts and raised eyebrows across the media landscape.
The project, dubbed “Mira’s Hope Academy” in honor of Perino’s 5-month-old daughter Mira, born via surrogacy in December 2024, broke ground in early 2024 and was completed last month. Perino, whose net worth is pegged at $6 million per ComingSoon.net, tapped into her savings accumulated from her years as a White House Press Secretary and Fox News anchor, alongside husband Peter McMahon’s business ventures. “These kids deserve more than just a roof—they deserve a future that feels like a palace,” Perino told People magazine in an exclusive interview on May 31, 2025. The school, located near Bozeman, now serves 45 orphans aged 6 to 14, offering education, vocational training, and counseling.
Inside, the academy boasts marble-floored classrooms, crystal chandeliers salvaged from a bankrupt hotel, and a library with custom oak shelving, rivaling the opulence of a five-star resort. Perino, known for her meticulous nature—seen in her 2018 preventative mastectomy due to a BRCA mutation—oversaw every detail, from soundproof study rooms to a rooftop garden with solar panels. “I wanted it to feel like a home, not a handout,” she said, adding that the luxury design aims to boost the children’s self-esteem. The campus also features a tech lab with 3D printers and a kitchen staffed by local chefs, funded by a $500,000 donation from anonymous Fox News supporters.
The initiative reflects Perino’s long-standing advocacy for foster care reform, a cause she’s championed on The Five, citing the 23,000 U.S. foster kids aging out annually without families, per the National Foster Youth Institute. Her recent motherhood with McMahon, 70, a businessman, deepened her commitment. “Mira inspired me to give these kids a chance I never had to give biologically,” she explained, her voice softening. The project drew inspiration from her stepchildren—Colin, Kelly, Lauren, and Mark—and her desire to extend her family’s love.
Reaction on X under #PerinoSchool has been overwhelmingly positive, with fans posting, “Dana’s heart is as big as her paycheck—amazing!” and “Luxury for orphans? That’s next-level kindness.” Some critics questioned the extravagance, with one user writing, “Why not use the money for more schools instead of chandel