Category Archives: Donations and Offerings

Drake Goes on Giving Spree in Miami

Drizzy was “sharing the wealth” all across M.I.A on Monday, when he was in town to shoot his “God’s Plan” video.

Btw, the song is already No. 1 on Billboards Top 100 singles chart.

But y’all knew that because it’s all over your iTunes playlist.

Drake’s first stop was at Miami Senior High School, where not only did he drop off a $25,000 check, but had students set up with OVO-designed uniforms.

Let’s just say that was a big fat thank you from Drake for allowing him to shoot his music video at the school.

Umm, Drizzy you can always use my apartment for your music videos…I’m just sayin’…if you’re ever in Charlotte…holla at your girl.

The “Diplomatic Immunity” rapper also surprised a University of Miami student with $50,000 check to go towards her tuition.

Destiny James, who received a few college scholarships, thought she’d be participating in a video shoot chatting up the value of free money for school. Nope!

Billboard reports, Drake came out the bushes with a big ‘ol check to reveal the real reason of the shoot.

Destiny replayed the moment in her Insta story.

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This happened today. I applied to scholarships last year for which I had to write an essay. I received those scholarships and thought that was the end of it. Apparently, my essay and my story made it to other departments. I was contacted this weekend about doing a video speaking about where I come from, things I've been through, and why it is so important for scholarship donors to continue to donate. This was the surprise the whole time. Drake told me that he has read great things about me and appreciates how hard I've worked through so many trials and decided to give me $50K for my tuition. @champagnepapi THANK YOU SO MUCH!!' You don't understand what this means to me! I would've never imagined this happening to me. I'm just a girl from Denmark, SC that wants to MAKE IT and be somebody and for you to see my hard work means the world. Thank you so much. God I thank you. You are so great and amazing! Thank you for blessing me when I thought my hard work was going unnoticed. I'm living out my dreams. God's Plan šŸ™šŸ¾

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Hat’s off to Drake for helping students live their best lives.

Hometown Heroes! Warriors Donate $75K to Oakland Fire Victims

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The Golden State Warriors take care of their own.

The players and coaches dug deep into their pockets to pull out some serious coins for the victims’ families of Oakland warehouse fire that killed 36 people on Dec. 2nd.

Players like Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson huddled up with their coach, Steve Kerr to pledge $75,000 to Oakland fire relief efforts.

According to NBA.com the destroyed Oakland warehouse is only a few miles from Warriors home arena.

Draymond Green said: “As a team that calls the Bay Area our home, we are all devastated by this tragedy that took place right in our community. Our thoughts and prayers are with those that have lost their lives, and our sincere condolences go out to their loved ones.”

The Warriors front office also dished out $50,000 to the Oakland Fire Relief Fund.

The Warriors announced their support for Oakland warehouse fire victims on Wednesday before their matchup with Los Angeles Clippers.

The Warriors even created a PSA to offer condolences and gratitude to first responders.

Check out the clip below.

Yet another reason to root for the home team.

 

 

 

WCW | Zendaya’s Birthday Wish to Empower Women

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K.C. Undercover’s Zendaya celebrated the big 2-0 Thursday. First she commemorated the milestone by (duh!) taking a selfie declaring herself “a woman.”

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A woman.

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Then the Spider-Man: HomecomingĀ star does what she does best–direct the spotlight to a cause that needs it.

Zendaya’s birthday wish is to raise $50,000 to Convoy of Hope’s–“a faith-based non-profit that provides food, water, emergency supplies and opportunities to people in need around the globe”–women empowerment initiative that Ā gives job training and education to women in Ā Ethiopia, Tanzania, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Philippines.

Below is what the future Nobel Peace Prize winner wrote on the Convoy of Hope’s donor page:

“For my birthday this year, please join me in supporting strong, beautiful and dignified women around the world. Your gift of any amount will make a positive difference in the lives of these amazing ladies. So, let’s do this!”

So far, $3,433 has been raised to make sure women continue to run the world.

 

Last year, Zendaya used her 19th birthday to raise $52,858 for orphaned children in South Africa.

Another year older, but Z is light years in the wise department.

 

IYB Women Crush | Zendaya’s B-Day Wish | Solange’s Brad Pitt Gig

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Zendaya turned 19 yesterday. Just let that sink in for a minute. This teenager’sĀ only birthday wish is to find a home for an AIDS ravaged family living in Africa. If that doesn’t earn the singer/actress/social media reader (I mean should I go on?) our woman crush, what will?

Zendaya, the humanitarian, took to Instagram–posting a snap of her with the family of three brothers (their parents died of AIDS) during a UNAIDS visit two months ago–to ask her Zen-DIE-HEARTs aka fans to help move them out a storage container they call home.

I visited where they lived, literally a metal storage container, and heard them speak of the troubles they face like simply getting food. It broke my heart.

To repair it, the “K.C. Undercover” star started a Crowdrise page to pool much-needed donations to support this struggling family. For every $10 donated you get a chance to hop on a video chat with Zendaya. So far $4,194 have been pooled.

Every dollar you donate will go directly to this cause. I can’t do it alone, but I believe that together we can truly change their lives.”

No, seriously how old is this chick? Really…30 somethings aren’t this mature.

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Speaking of old souls Solange is definitely one of them. If you stalk follow her Instagram that’s an indisputable fact, so is her love for the Big Easy. So it’s not surprising Solange would headline Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Foundation benefit concert on Saturday to mark the 10 year anniversary of Katrina. The soul singer took to Facebook to express her support of Make It Right, which builds green homes for ‘hoods in need. The Foundation built 150 brand new homes for families affected by Katrina.

I salute them for all the incredible work they’ve done and completely honored and humbled to be apart of this celebration…

Check out a tease of Solange’s performance at the House of Blues.

Looks like Solo slayed the stage. And still reveling in her “magic” based on this tweet.

Good cause, good vibes.

Ka-Ching! Tyler Perry’s (Pricey, but) Good Deed

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Tyler Perry is rich, guys. How rich is he? He dropped $150,000 on a piano. No, the keys aren’t made of gold, but the “Steinway B grand” has felt the fingertips of musical royalty–Duke Ellington, Count Basie–and belonged to one: Nat King Cole.

It’s not just bragging rights the “Gone Girl” star bought the piano. That big check will benefit Nat King Cole Generation Hope that supports music education in schools.

T.P. is the real rich bitch.

Kanye’s Got Coins! Yeezy Donates Record Amount to Donda’s House

kanyewinkIn case you thought Kanye spent all his money on those fog machines and sparklers, think again.

The rapper/doctor dropped off a $133,000 check to the Donda’s House foundation–a non-profit he created to honor his late mom Professor Donda West–this week.

It’s a record amount for the Chicago org that empowers kids to pursue a career in the arts. Let the Yesus church say amen!

Kanye West took a portion from his earnings at the Louis Vuitton Foundation concert shows and donated it to Donda’s House. Awww… it’s like he combined two of his favorite things–fashion and his mama–to make a difference.

The Creative Director of Donda’s House, Che “Rhymefest” Smith, had this to say about the contribution to their coffers.

I really cannot thank Kanye enough for this incredible contribution. His leadership has enabled Donda’s House to grow quickly and impact the lives of over 160 of Chicago’s young people already in short history. This is a great honor and a true tribute to his mother’s legacy, who did so much for young artists.

Why do we hate him again? Someone remind me.

Magic Johnson Gives $10 Million to Chiraq Youth

Magic "Earvin" Johnson is giving this much money to Chicago youth. Image Courtesy: Twitter

Magic “Earvin” Johnson is giving this much money to Chicago youth.
Image Courtesy: Twitter

Never one to turn a blind eye to a worthy cause. Magic worked his by opening his wallet and pulling out a whopping $10 milly to get at risk Chiraq youth summer work.

Through the Hall-of-Famer’s City Youth Empowerment org, he’s agreed to gift the windy city the massive check to widen the scope of the “One Summer Chicago Plus” and offering 5,000 jobs to kids vulnerable to committing crime.

The two-year program is for 16-to-19 year old’s that are or have been in the juvie system or missed more than six weeks of school. Eligible youth will be placed in a 25-hour a week summer job, become a mentee and enter “cognitive behavioral therapy and social skills building.”

The cause sparked Magic’s interest when studies showed that disadvantaged youth’s chances of committing crime were cut in half when they were in the program. Even 16 months after the two-month jobs ended the statistics remained the same.

Magic toldĀ The Sun Times this about his generosity:

Providing disadvantaged kids with alternatives is a step in the right direction toward helping them reach their full potential and curb violence in our neighborhoods.

The paper reports that 1,000 teens were hired and counseled last year. Thanks to Magic it will be 2,000 this year and 3,000 next year.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel thanked Johnson for filling the void the federal govt left–they withdrew from funding summer jobs for youth–with his donation to the city.

“Through this generous grant, more youth will stay safe, active and engaged this summer while getting the skills and on-the-job training necessary for a bright future,ā€ the mayor was quoted as saying.

Anything we can do to turn Chiraq back to Chicago is a plus in my book.

Russell Simmons Donates 100 Percent of Clothing Line Profits to Black Empowerment

Russell Simmons and Kanye West want to change the fashion industry, but have conflicting ways on doing it. Photo Courtesy: unclerush instagram

Russell Simmons and Kanye West want to change the fashion industry, but have conflicting ways on doing it.
Photo Courtesy: unclerush instagram

Hip-Hop mogul Russell Simmons is putting his money where his mouth is.

Earlier this month the yogi took to Instagram to gripe about minorities not getting a fair shake within the fashion industry. Somewhere Kanye West is rolling his eyes and saying “duh.”

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But instead of storming on an established designer’s runway and claiming to have the best line of all time. Or ranting at a music concert, Russell decided to take all,I mean every last cent he makes with his Arglyeculture line he sells at Macys and donate it to Black empowerment.

“I want to help create space for more black designers to have access to sell their lines in big American department stores,” he writes on Instagram.

In another Instagram post he writes about donating profits to black empowerment designers and education programs. And giving neighborhood antiviolence programs a cut as well.

It wouldn’t hurt to have more faces of color being on the stage, rather than in the audience.

Drake Donates $75,000 to Struggling High School

Drake performing in the studio. Now he's going to give Strawberry Mansion High Schoolers that same opportunity. Photo Courtesy: ChampagnePapi Instagram

Drake performing in the studio. Now he’s going to give Strawberry Mansion High Schoolers that same opportunity.
Photo Courtesy: ChampagnePapi Instagram

Strawberry Mansion High School is getting a PR boost from lovesick rapper Drake. He donated $75,000 to open a recording studio for students at the troubled high school that was ranked one of the worst in the country.

“If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late” rapper cashed in (literally) on a promise he made to the teens two years ago. In a surprise appearance to Strawberry Mansion High School, he told the kids,

This is about you. This is about your principal. This is about your future. I love you. I care about you. I want to see you succeed.

Now they can in a newly designed booth–Huffington Post reports finished construction last summer–the Strawberry High principal christened; playing a song from the studio over the PA system.

Let’s hope they go the way of famous Strawberry high alum Meek Mill.

Rapper J. Cole Offers Childhood Home to Single Moms

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J. Cole knows what it’s like to be a homeowner (he did name his third album 2014 Forest Hills Drive after his hometown block in Fayetteville, N.C.) and wants single moms to have the same experience.

But not just any old house,the one he grew up in.

The Roc Nation rapper decided to loan out his home for two years to a deserving single mom that’s fallen on hard times (sadly, there are quite a few families to choose from in this situation.) and are owed the homeowner lifestyle. In a nutshell, live the American dream for 365 x 2, without getting a tab.

“So every two years a new family will come in, they live rent-free,” explains J. Cole in an interview with The Combat Jack Show. “The idea is that it’s a single mother with multiple kids, and she’s coming from a place where all her kids is sharing a room. She might have two, three kids, they’re sharing a room. She gets to come here rent-free. I want her kids to feel how I felt when we got to the house.”

In his latest LP, J. Cole talks about moving into the home as a game changer for his personal development. On his site he says:

ā€œHaving my own room allowed me turn into who I am. I enjoy privacy, I enjoy being by myself. That came from having my own room. Having my own room allowed me to shape myself.ā€

Kudos to the “Crooked Smile” rapper for passing over his house keys. May the new renters have the same lucky he did.

I will keep you posted on the deets for this rapper’s new charitable efforts.