NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) — A New York City school got the surprise of a lifetime when a very famous alumni stopped.

Grammy-winning singer Alicia Keys visited the Professional Performing Arts School in Manhattan on Tuesday to donate music instruments to its students.

Keys says her alma mater is underfunded and oversubscribed, “and I hope to make this better for them.”

She also launched an online contest where people can share how they would use $1,000 “to make the world a better place.” It is part of the global campaign, “World of Betters.”

The contest ends Dec. 15.

“World of Betters” also features rapper K’Naan, who will host an event in Johannesburg, and Indian singer Sunidhi Chauhan, who will host an event in Mumbai.

Share your thoughts in the comments section…

(TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)