Ever since news hit that Facebook‘s Mark Zuckerberg would be donating $100 million to the Newark school system, the chatter about how Zuckerberg’s image would benefit has been deafening. Technorati wrote last week that Facebook PR had kicked into high gear with the upcoming premiere of The Social Network. EWeek wrote also about the timing of the announcement given the new film. And Mashable noted that the donation could be an effort to counteract Zuckerberg’s appearance on the Forbes 400.

Whatever the PR implications for Zuckerberg, it’s nice to know that the publicity surrounding the announcement is actually doing good for the Newark school system.

Mayor Cory Booker announced today that he’d secured $40 million of the total needed to match the $100 million grant. Mayor Booker, New Jersey State Governor Chris Christie, and Zuckerberg were meant to appear on NBC today to talk further, but the interview was interrupted by the weather.

“I am so grateful that so many are stepping forward after Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement to answer our call to action and share our commitment in the limitless potential of Newark’s students,” Mayor Booker said  in an e-mail.

Pershing Square Capital Management has pledged $25 million to the matching gift.

[Image: Saed Hindash, The Star-Ledger]