Hip-Hop Media Training

Usher Buys $12k Puppy At Charity Gala, Donates Private Dance Lessons

By | Hip-Hop Media Training – Fri, Oct 26, 2012 4:58 PM EDT

Usher and Poppy (photo: Mike Coppola, Getty Images)Usher could not resist getting a new puppy Thursday night. The "Numb" singer purchased a female Goldendoodle for $12,000 at the Second Annual Pencils Of Promise Gala in Guastavino's in New York.

[Related: Usher & Shakira to replace Christina & Cee Lo on "The Voice" Season 4]

Usher boasted about his new pet on his Twitter page. "All in the name of [canine] fun! It took me 2 years but I outbid everyone this year to bring Poppy home to Ush," he wrote. The name Poppy is inspired by the event title, Pencils Of Promise (PoP).

According to People, Usher outbid former "Gossip Girl" actress Jessica Szohr. After Usher initially offered to buy the puppy for $10,000, Szohr raised the stakes to $11,000, prompting the R&B pop star to increase his bid to $12,000.

[Related: Usher, Jennifer Hudson highlight Whitney Houston tribute to air in November]

But Usher didn't just make a monetary donation to the organization, he is also volunteering his time. Two gala attendees each won private dance lessons with Usher for $65,000 each.

Usher's hefty charitable donation will help Pencils Of Promise's efforts to build 100 schools. So far, it has built more than 50.

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