Talib Kweli Helps Chicago Schools

As the son of two educators and an advocate for positivity in his music, Talib Kweli [click to read] is using his voice to help create social change. He is all set to perform two back-to-back Dare 2 Dream charity events at the House of Blues in Chicago to help promote reading and literacy among Chicago's youth.

The non-profit organization, Working in the Schools (WITS) will use benefits from the event to provide students with one-on-one tutoring and mentoring programs. As one of the worst public school systems in the United States, Chicago Public School System (CPS) graduates only fifty percent of its high school freshmen. Of those who do graduate, only six percent finish college, and as little as two percent of minority students graduate from college. These statistics are not surprising in a system where eighty-five percent of students live under the poverty line.

The Dare 2 Dream events will go towards positively impacting the lives of all 400,000 CPS students.Jeff Sodikoff, President of host Platform One Entertainment said, “I'm extremely proud and honored to partner with the incredible Talib Kweli to help foster major awareness and raise important funding for Working In The Schools all while continuing our pursuit to harness the power of music and entertainment to benefit important causes.”

The event is scheduled for May 2, 2009 in Chicago.

Lil Wayne Donates $200k to Hometown Park

Louisiana rapper Lil Wayne is doing good in his own hood; He's giving back to the community. He has donated $200,000 to help rebuild the New Orleans, Louisiana playground he grew up in.

The Lollipop hit-maker, real name Dwayne Carter III, handed over the cash to officials in charge of Harrell Park, which was destroyed when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. It was used as a trailer site for the local water board in the hurricane's aftermath, and its heavy equipment left the park's track and field severely damaged.

Wayne's good deed, via his youth empowerment organization One Family Foundation, means officials can now make a start on restoring the recreation area. And Lil Wayne hopes other stars will be inspired to help their communities in the same way. He tells Louisiana's WWLTV, "You can't really tell them (kids) what to do these days. When you tell them what to do, that's when they get angry, when you tell them to be like me, because it's hard to be like me. So, the best thing you can tell them is try to do right."... huh??? Put the styrofoam cup down Wayne. Whatever... it was a good gesture nevertheless!

Polow Da Don Doing Good In The Hood

I see the self proclaimed "King of the White Girls", Polow Da Don, and his Zone 4, Inc. label have extended the submission deadline for this year’s Free Rent For A Year contest due to the popularity and level of interest in the charitable endeavor, the label announced this week. The essay competition, now in it’s second year, is open until January 1, 2009 at midnight to applicants 18 and over residing in the Atlanta Metropolitan area.

The Free Rent For A Year contest kicked off last Tuesday (November 25) during Zone 4’s second annual Give Thanks Carnival. The early evening event created a family atmosphere complete with blow up games, pony rides, and performances and appearances by Zone 4’s roster of artists – Polow, Rich Boy, Keri Hilson, and i15 – as well as ColliPark Music’s Vistoso Bosses and V103 on-air personality Greg Street.

While the children were entertained, parents were treated to the opportunity to provide their families with a proper Thanksgiving meal despite the harsh economic climate. Over 600 turkeys were given away to the Southwest Atlanta community. On the night of the Give Thanks Carnival, the Zone 4, Inc. staff and volunteers also registered over 200 individuals for the Free Rent for a Year.

"I already feel like I am a great producer, I aspire to be a great person with a great heart,” Polow Da Don said. “Inspired by my dad's good nature and people like Civil Rights leader Hosea Williams (whose organization hosts a Thanksgiving Dinner and Christmas Dinner for the less fortunate every year), I want to make sure we are around here 20 years from now still doing this."

In January, the label’s top brass will select one winner from the submitted application essays describing why author should be considered for the grand prize. The winner will have his/her rent or mortgage paid for the entire 2009 calendar year, with the payments going directly to the apartment facility or mortgage company.

Submission forms and contest rules for the Zone 4, Inc. Free Rent For A Year contest can be found at www.zone4inc.com/freerent.html.

P. Miller Helps The Youth To Shoot For The Stars

I see that rap mogul giant Master P.... oops excuse me, I meant to say P. Miller still continues his efforts to do some good in the hood. This time arround he is giving today's youth another way out... by "shooting" their way to the top.

NO!!! Not with guns you silly people. With video cameras. P has created new organizations called "Who’s Behind the Shooting and Save Our Kids Foundation".

He told AllHipHop.com that the program will focus on saving lives by taking guns out of the hands of inner city youth and replace the weapons with video cameras. Participants will use the cameras to offer another way of spending their time and energy by educating and motivating other kids to chronicle their activities with their own camera.

With the Who’s Behind the Shooting and Save Our Kids foundation, Miller hopes to provide the same guidance for youth that he received, which allowed him to change his focus in life with a positive mind state.

"I was able to change my life by having someone believe in me," Miller said, "We are three hardworking parents that just want to see all kids have a future,” Miller said. “For us, this is not about making money, it's about doing our part and helping these kids fulfill their dreams.” The other two people that Miller is referring to is Veda Burton of Rage Entertainment and Karla Huff of Dream Talent Management who helped him create the program.

In addition to learning how to use the video cameras, the Who’s Behind the Shooting program exposes youth to possible entrepreneurial opportunities through diverse aspects of the performing arts. Participants will also be able to get in front of the camera for acting, singing and dancing as well as go behind the scenes to learn about filming, editing and producing.

The launch of the foundation comes as youth deal with various issues that include violence, drugs, teenage pregnancy, and crime. Despite the obstacles, Miller is confident his program can help kids turn their negative situations into a positive. “We have a diverse group of kids that are doing the all the right things,” the Better Black TV CEO stated. “They could easily be gangbanging, committing crimes, taking or selling drugs. These young people have a purpose. The sole requirement for the program is that you need to be a good student and understand the importance of education.”

LaBron James Ralph Lauren B-Ball

Ralph Lauren Purple Label and the NBA star LeBron James have teamed up on a collaboration to benefit the LeBron James Family Foundation. The collaboration features a limited edition Ralph Lauren Purple Label x LeBron James basketball in Purple Labels signature colors black and purple with Ralph Lauren written across it. The ball also comes with a black and purple Ralph Lauren velvet duster bag and a nice box. Oh yea, did I forget to mention that the ball is autographed by LeBron James himself? All the money which is generated through sales will go straight to the LeBron James Family Foundation which seeks to inspire children to be physically fit, academically focused and environmentally aware, and to empower single-parent families to succeed. The basketball is limited to a total of 300 and each one is invidiually numbered. Available now at Ralphlauren.com for a retail price of $1000. Hit the jump to check out more shots of the basketball.

50 Cent Has A Green Thumb

50 Cent can now add horticulturist to his tremendously diversified resume. Well... not exactly but the rapper/actor now can somewhat consider himself a gardener. Blame it on Bette Midler’s charitable green thumb. The unlikely duo teamed up Monday to celebrate the opening of “The Curtis ‘50 Cent’ Jackson Community Garden” in Queens, New York.

And how did Bette and 50 get together for the project? “I called and nagged him,” Bette told People. “His G-Unity Foundation gives a million dollars away every year in grants to non profits all over the city … They’re just brilliant.”

The community garden, which is part of Bette’s New York Restoration Project, is located in Jamaica, Queens, where the rapper grew up.

“I wish I had this to come to when I was growing up around here,” 50 told the mag. “The opportunity to create this garden for the youth and the community is a great one.” And, 50 said Bette made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.

“When Bette calls you don’t say ‘no.’ Not if you want your reputation to stay the way it is,” 50 said. Will the community garden be the first of many collaborations between the singer and the rapper?

“Absolutely!” he said, as he hugged and laughed with Bette. “He’s producing my next record,” Bette joked. “I will be rapping. He’s writing a song for me right now.”

Gotta love it!

Terrence Howard Marshal's In Howard Homecoming

As planned, Academy Award-nominated actor Terrence Howard came out to the Howard University Homecoming and donned the appearance of the University band's drum major.

During the festivities, Howard served as the homecoming ambassador and grand marshal at the school’s homecoming football game in Washington, D.C., today (Oct 19).

“I am very excited about participating in Howard University’s legendary Homecoming,” said Terrence. “I am looking forward to celebrating with the students and the distinguished alumni of this great American treasure.”

Sitting in the audience watching Terrence lead the marching band was Sean “Diddy” Combs, is an Howard Alumni, and also watched on with his arm still in a sling. According to Diddy, he just had shoulder surgery from working out too hard. Terrence, now 39, never finished college himself but was admitted to the Pratt Institute in New York. He didn’t complete his education as he had joined his brother on an audition for The Cosby Show and was cast in the role.

October Is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

The month of October is dedicated to Breast Cancer Awareness. As tons of people begin to raise breast cancer awareness in a variety of ways, including their fashion, we are still faced with the grim thought of there still not being a cure for the disease.

For the entire month, many people are going to begin to go pink in support of recognizing breast cancer awareness month. We will also use this month to focus on the disease which impacts thousands upon thousands of women and men in the U.S. and around the world.

The hope is that by raising awareness of the disease, they can get more women and men to be regularly screened for breast cancer. On top of that, this will also help push for more research, and overall support of the disease. There are many ways that people are using their fashion sense to show their support for breast cancer. This can be anything from wearing pink clothes, to dying your hair pink, etc. If you want to keep it simple, you can always go for the nice pink ribbon. But no matter how you do it, it is all about raising awareness and money for breast cancer research, and it will all help in the end.

Terrence J Registers 100,000 New Voters

As corny as I think Terrence J is, I must give him props for doing such a great job for his efforts during this election season.

Being the host of one of today's top hip hop shows, Terrence J is looked at as a leader for the next generation. At only 25 years-old, Terrence knows that he's in a powerful position. A position where what you say and what you do, can shape and mold a young mind.

He recently did an interview with Hip HopDX this month and said, "I've been put into a powerful position. I think, for a while, I didn't realize the power of the position that I had. It took something happening with me - seeing how the things I say out of my mouth will be widespread, if I say the wrong thing."

After a challenging year on the show, that saw a shift in co-hosts, Terrence believed and used the upcoming election as a way to re-brand his position in entertainment and his power as a role-model. "With this year's election, I really started feeling a little hypocritical just being on television, telling people to register to vote. I didn't feel as though I was doing enough, I wasn't getting my hands dirty. I wasn't worthy to be in that position. I really wanted to do something to make a change."

Traveling by car with his brother, this past summer Terrence launched Crank That Vote, a campaign to register 100,000 American voters. The host and actor revealed his thinking in the effort, "We were just not gonna come back to New York City till we got 100,000 people registered to vote." Stopping for stints in New York, Newark, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, New Orleans and points in between, Terrence says the labor helped him as much as his cause. "I really got back in touch with God. When I got this position, I would talk to God every single day and pray every single night. Then, once you get into that position, you start getting busy, and forget."

With the election just over a month away, Terrence stresses this won't be his last push for activism. "I might tackle HIV in America, I might tackle poverty, I might tackle something else." Having recently inked endorsement deals with McDonald's and Rockport, the host stresses that it's not just dollars and cents that makes sense. "I also want to do free projects, like Crank That Vote," acknowledging financial assistance from BET, as well as mentorship from Russell Simmons and Diddy in his efforts. Humbling himself and his image, the afternoon host adds, "The intent of this is to get people to say, 'If corny Terrence from 106 & Park can 100,000 people, well let me get 1,000 people from my high school.'"

Even down to its name, this voter registration campaign may appeal to a different generation and audience than previous ones from Diddy or T.I. "Soulja Boy, whether you like him or not, you've got to respect him with his movement with 'Crank Dat Superman,'" With legions of first time voters having watched Terrence the last three years, this is an opportune time. "The whole 'crank dat' movement picked up where the Crunk movement left off. The movement is the young people. It's the young people that make everything else cool. When I meet them, a lot of times, they respect the elder statesmen of Hip Hop."

Aside from hosting 106th & Park, Terrence has just been added on to the roster of Sean John as one of it's new faces in print ads beginning this fall.

Mariah Carey Loves The Kids

Mariah Carey is lending her name and face for a good cause.

The Grammy winner has signed on as the latest Hunger Ambassador for the Yum! Foundation's World Hunger Relief, an annual effort that aims to raise money for the United Nations World Food Program and bring an end to starvation around the world.

Her duties include becoming the actual poster child for the cause, appearing on print ads that will be featured in more than 100 countries and 36,000 franchises.

"The change from hunger to hope starts with you," Carey's poster reads.

If you want to donate to the cause, you can do so at any of the Yum! Brands restaurants, including Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut, Long John Silver's and A&W Restaurants.

And the most exciting new of it all... in exchange for your charitable donation,you will receive a special free download of the song "Love Story" from Carey's latest album, E=MC2. Gee wilikers!!!

Tyler Perry Feeds The Homeless

Writer-director Tyler Perry is planning to distribute food to more than 1,000 hungry families today here in Atlanta!

Perry will pass out the food at the Hosea Feed the Hungry and Homeless center, after hearing the facility had a shortage of food because it feeds a high population of working families hit by today's economy, says the Associated Press.

Lisa Raye Celebrates Birthday Helping Turks & Caicos Residents

Despite the recent happenings between Turks and Caicos First Lady LisaRaye McCoy-Misick and her husband (for now) The Premiere Michael Misick, Lisa Raye will taking the time out during her birthday celebration (Sept 23), to help the victims of hurricane Ike, which hit the island pretty hard.

LisaRaye plans to celebrate her birthday in Los Angeles where she now resides. She will be hosting a party at The Area Nightclub in West Hollywood on Tuesday Sept 23.

Lisa will be asking guest that instead of giving gifts to her, that they donate that money to helping to repair some of the damage of the island. Kudos to you Lisa!

Denzel Washington The New Spokeman For The Boys and Girls Club

The Boys and Girls Clubs all around the country have always been somewhat of a safe haven for urban youth. It's where most of us who have children, send them after school if we can't pick them up on time. It's where are kids learn a sport, or a craft, and start to really form ideals as to who they are and can be.

Denzel Washington, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Martin Sheen, Wesley Clark and Shaquille O'Neal, all of whom attended the Boys & Girls Clubs of America as children, have lent their childhood photos to the organization for a national advertising campaign.

Washington unveiled the "BE GREAT" campaign Wednesday, asking people to volunteer to help at their local clubs.

"What's going on with children doesn't worry me. What's going on with adults worries me. If we are not more committed to these young people ... they will go as far as we take them, so the onus is on us, not on the children," Washington told reporters. "We've created this world for them, we are the ones that fall and we are the ones that can rectify it."

Washington displayed a campaign ad featuring a photo of himself from the second grade. In the headshot, he's clad in a collared shirt, tie and blazer - much like he was dressed at the event.

>"A handsome young man that is," he said. "I have to give credit where credit is due, that begins with my mother not only for giving me life and faith and so much support, but also digging up this photo."

The Academy Award winner, who is national spokesman for the organization, attended a Boys & Girls Club as a child in New York.

Shawty Lo Supports Diabetes Foundation

It's about time Shawty Lo is finally doing something good for someone other than himself. The Atlanta bred rapper is throwing his support behind the American Diabetes Association’s largest fundraising event in an effort to raise awareness about the disease in the African-American and Latino communities, AllHipHop.com has learned.

The Bankhead rapper will participate in the ADA’s Step Out and Walk to Fight Diabetes event on September 20 at Atlanta’s Historic Grant Park.

Shawty Lo, born Carlos Walker, was diagnosed with the widespread disorder in 2001. To show his support, the rapper will lead team Diabetes Destroyers, as they complete the walk to help raise funds for a cure for diabetes, which affects 23.6 million children and adults in the United States.

"Anything I can do to help raise awareness about diabetes, I will be there," Shawty Lo said. "Everybody knows at least one person that has it, so it’s like when we participate in events, walks and things of that nature, we’re really helping somebody we care about, as well as ourselves because you never know when or how it can affect you."

On-site registration for the Atlanta Step Out and Walk event will open at 7:00 am, during which a light breakfast will be served. Following an aerobic warm-up, the walk itself will start with an official ribbon cutting ceremony at 8:30am.

The ADA will also offer a Health and Wellness Festival providing products, information and services for children and adults who live with diabetes, which affects the body’s creation and use of insulin.

Oprah Winfrey Tops List of Most Generous Celebs

Television's "big mama", talk show host and media mogul Oprah Winfrey tops the list of Parade magazine's most generous celebrities, with a whopping $50.2 million in charitable donations last year.

Winfrey, 54, contributed the funds to various charities, including her own Oprah's Angel Network, which provides education, health care and advocacy for women and children worldwide. Parade's list was compiled by The Giving Back Fund from public records of donations given during 2007.

The list's No. 2 most generous celebrity was 73-year-old bandleader Herb Alpert, who dispensed $13 million to charity, including his music foundation.

Singer Barbra Streisand gave away $11 million to causes concerned with improving the environment, women's issues, civil rights and AIDS research.

Hollywood icon Paul Newman is No. 4 on the list, with a $10 million donation to Kenyon College, his alma mater, in Gambier, OH.

Actor Mel Gibson gave away $9.9 million to his Holy Family Church in Malibu, CA, while celeb power couple Brad Pitt and Angelia Jolie provided $8.4 million to their foundation to benefit New Orleans reconstruction, refugee aid and cross-cultural understanding.

Three athletes - cycling champion Lance Armstrong basketball legend Michael Jordan and hockey star Eric Lindros - tied for seventh place on the list, each donating $5 million to their favorite charities.

Wyclef Helps Out His Country of Haiti

Wyclef Jean is trying to keep his homeland above water. The Haitian singer, who serves as a Goodwill Ambassador to the notoriously poor Caribbean nation, and his Yelé Haiti foundation have launched the Haiti Storm Relief Fund in response to the devastation wrought by Hurricanes Gustav, Ike and a series of storms that have also battered the southeastern U.S, the Bahamas and Cuba.

Jean's group has been doling out food, water, purification tablets, tents, blankets, medical supplies, hygiene kits and cash to various nonprofit relief organizations currently toiling away in Haiti, where hundreds of people have died over the past several weeks.

Teaming with the Pan American Development Foundation and the World Food Program, Yelé Haiti is planning for a massive emergency food delivery to begin within the next few days.

"My country is facing a serious catastrophe at the moment, and we urgently require assistance," Jean said. "But the long-term catastrophe is that we have less than 2 percent tree cover, and without restoring our forests, we will always be susceptible to mudslides and flash floods from storms and hurricanes."

Wyclef is such a good dude. God bless him for doing things such as these.

The Ladies "Stand" For Cancer!

Thirteen of the most talented female performers joined together onstage at Fashion Rocks to sing “Just Stand Up!”, which is the worldwide charity single benefiting Stand Up To Cancer. The song was created and produced by LA Reid and Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, who took the stage alongside singing sensations including: Beyonce Knowles, Mary J Blige, Rihanna, Carrie Underwood, Miley Cyrus, Keyshia Cole, Leona Lewis, Fergie, Ciara, Mariah Carey, Ashanti, Natasha Bedingfield and Nicole Scherzinger at Radio City Music Hall on Friday (September 5).

Female Celebs Design For A Cause

Jada Pinkett-Smith, Janet Jackson, Eva Longoria, and Joy Bryant and many other female celebs teamed up with shoe designer Stuart Weitzman to raise money for ovarian cancer research. Each star was given a plain white satin pump and asked to come up with their own design. “We were amazed — no one turned us down,” Stuart Weitzman told In Touch at the re-opening of his recently remodeled flagship store in New York. “It is cool to see how people’s personalities and tastes come out,” newlywed Joy Bryant, who created a graffiti-inspired heel, told In Touch. “Everyone is so different.” All of the shoes will be auctioned off throughout the month of September and 100% of the proceeds go to benefit cancer research. Click here for the rest of the shoes and if you would like to place a bid for a pair.

Tameka Foster Gives Back To Her Hood

I guess Tameka Foster isn't ALL bad huh?

Following in the footsteps of R&B sensation, and her husband Usher Raymond, Tameka Foster has incorporated her own little give back to the community event in her hometown of Oakland, CA in the form of a "Back To School Expo" with her mans efforts in voter registration.

The first annual event, at Oakland’s City Hall Aug. 24, will include a fashion show (Usher’s other half was once his stylist), a teen summit and a talent showcase. And in addition to giving school supplies to an expected 600 public school students, the Oakland Natives Give Back Fund will also welcome an unnamed “well-known recording artist”, according to the press release.

I think it's pretty damn obvious who that's going to be right? Not rocket science here people.

Source

Terri J Vaughn's 6th Annual Angels Awards Benefit

Actress Terri J. Vaughn (Steve Harvey Show, All of Us, Daddy's Little Girls), encourages young women to take flight through her Take Wings Foundation.

Terri J. Vaughn celebrated her Take Wings Foundation’s Sixth Annual Angels Awards Benefit gala with family and friends at the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco on August, 16, 2008, proving that she has adopted the idea of paying it forward not only as a mantra, but as a lifestyle. Hollywood divas Terri J. Vaughn, founder of Take Wings Foundation, and Essence Atkins share a sisterly bond at the Sixth Annual Angels Benefit gala in San Francisco (above). Tichina Arnold and Tommy Ford served as cohosts for the benefit.

The Take Wings Foundation has been around for the past eleven years. Vaughn has used the non-profit foundation to inspire and nuture the talent of teenage girls, ages 13 to 18, while encouraging and inspiring them to reach their greatest potential as future leaders and productive citizens. “It’s all about exposing these young ladies to different environments,” said Vaughn, a Bay Area native. “To know that we’ve helped teach young girls to make better decisions about their lives and the challenges they face is truly a blessing.”

Take Wings has welcomed around 150 young women every year, many of whom have gone on to excel academically in college and who still will call Vaughn’s cell phone whenever they need her.

Tank performed for the benefit Tichina Arnold, Terri Vaughn, Dwayne Wiggins of Tony! Toni! Toné!,(WHERE U BEEN?) and Essence Atkins Terri, Tichina, and Terri's mom Helen Vaughn Adonal Foyle, Ford, Arnold, Atkins, Vaughn, Tank and Karon (Terri's husband) come together to support young women. Ford and Arnold greet Take Wings Foundation board of directors Adonal Foyle and Billy J. Ward.