Category Archives: Man Candy Monday

Derek Luke Launches Foundation to Empower Youth

Derek Luke may have played a guidance counselor on TV, but he’s putting in work off screen too.

The 13 Reasons Why star launched Derek Luke Foundation to steer kids toward their dreams in his hometown of Jersey City. Why?

“People talked to me about how to get a job. No one had ever talked to me about how to pursue my dream,” Derek told NJ.com.

Now he’s passing that recipe of success on by supporting programs and initiatives that focus on African American issues with his Foundation.

The Hershey’s kiss coated cutie (can’t help it, guys) kicked off the Foundation with four days of festivities in the Garden State.

Starting on Wednesday with free haircuts and school supplies for kiddies at David’s Barbershop on Kennedy Blvd.

Friday was Kings Night, a men’s empowerment forum at New Jersey Armory, where Derek served as keynote speaker. He plans to hold one every other Friday going forward.

Saturday was an all day activities fest filled with education based games, including using hip hop as a learning tool.

The Foundation wrapped on Sunday with Jersey’s Derek Luke Day with a Love Unity in the Community theme at Audubon Park. Sunday funday had bouncy houses, petting zoo, raffles, prizes, face painting and more. How could it get better? With spa services for moms, thanks Luke.

Good time for a good cause.

Comedian Lil Duval is Preparing Florida Kids for ‘Best Life’

MTV star Lil Duval made his way back home to Jacksonville, Florida for Boys and Girls Club back to school giveaway that was sure to make Sunshine state students ‘Smile’ today.

The Smile B***h artist handed out backpacks and took selfies with fans, before heading into the studio to (hopefully) serve us another hit song, in between shenanigans.

Cause if you breathing, you achieving… sorry can’t get the lyrics out my head.

How Ludacris Answered Atlanta Woman’s Prayers

Ludacris was an angel in disguise for A.T.L native Therra Jarramillo last week.

The Fast and Furious star was shopping at Atlanta Whole Foods on Monday, after checking out he noticed Jarramillo was struggling to pay for her items.

Jarramillo was on hard times; her husband recently died of brain cancer and was living off of rice and vegetables. A friend gave her a Whole Foods gift card, but it didn’t cover everything.

That’s when Luda stepped in.
“He turned to me and he said, ‘I said I got this.’ And I looked at him, and he said, ‘All of this, don’t put anything back.’”

The total was $375, btw.

Jarramillo didn’t know who the Good Samaritan was until the cashier tipped her off.
“I kept looking at him, and thinking, this man is an angel,” she said. “And [the cashier] goes, ‘you know that’s a famous rapper, you know, that’s Ludacris.’ And I went, ‘What! What!’ and I screamed.”

She went home and recounted the pay it forward tale to friends on Facebook.

What Ludacris had no way of knowing is that his quiet kindness and generous gesture came at a moment when my candle was out.He used his personal light to fire up my own.

Isn’t that what we should be doing for each other?I think it is.

Be like Ludacris y’all. I know I’m gonna do it. Pay it forward.

We can, every one of us, do SOMEthing for others. You never know a stranger’s full story when you reach out a hand and yank them into a better place.

Amen. Let’s all try to be kind to one another in this divisive time.

NBA All Star Derrick Rose Launches Scholarship Program

Derrick Rose is the latest baller to cheer for, and it has nothing to do with his jump shot.

The former Bulls point guard announced the Rose Scholars via Twitter on Wednesday.

The scholars program seeks three “civically-minded” high school students–must be a sophomore, junior or senior–to apply for funds for college.

One lucky student can win $200,000 to go towards their higher learning fund. Two other students can earn $20,000 each.

Rose reveals he got the idea to launch the scholarship when reflecting on his charitable works, in a letter posted to the Rose Scholars site.

As I started to reflect on my service to others, the idea of The Rose Scholars program started to form. An award that would reflect on my desire to find greatness, my dedication to perseverance and determination, my passion for self-empowerment, and my wish to elevate it in promising individuals applies.

The Chi-Town native continued by writing the scholarship could be a turning point in teens lives.

I know we can all identify a moment where our lives changed. A new path opened up to us that was not previously available. This new path allowed us to make different decisions and start to imagine new possibilities. This is exactly what the Rose Scholars program is meant to achieve in each and every one of you that applies.

It’s a path friend and fellow advocate for education LeBron James can get behind by tweeting his support.
You may have heard he opened a school in his hometown of Akron, Ohio last week.

The deadline to apply for Rose Scholars is Sept. 30 and winners will be announced around Oct. 15.

Denver Baller Will Barton Donates Game Room to Local School

Denver Nuggets baller Will Barton made it a feel good Friday for students at Johnston Square Elementary school.

By converting a spare room in the Baltimore school into a game room. And it’s officially ready for testing.

Will donated the games as a way to give back to his native B-more.

Telling CBS Denver:

(I thought) how could I help this school and help kids stay in school with good attendance and keep striving to get good grades?

By bribing little boys with video games, of course.

Not to be left out, the girls were given a dance/exercise room. Donated by owners of The Vino Vixens Social Club.

Barton’s rules are boys and girls earn points to use the room–based on classwork, attendance and (duh!) good behavior.

Will may be on to something.

Terrell Owens Makes Surprise Visit to LA Women’s Shelter

T.O. spread Mother’s Day love to those that need it the most.

The ex-Seahawk player turned reality star dropped by Alexandria House, an LA-based women and children’s shelter.

T.O. delivered much needed supplies to the shelter. And gave single moms a break by playing catch with the kids.

Let’s tip our hat to mama Owens for raising her son right.

Tracy Morgan Upgrades Hometown Playground

Spread love, it’s the Brooklyn way.

Tracey Morgan (being the faithful Brooklyn-nite he is) did just that last week by returning to the ‘hood to officially open the gates of shiny and new Marcy Park.

TBS and The Last OG comedian donated $215,000 to renovate the Bed-Stuy playground.

“Thanks to Tracy and TBS for making it possible for NYC Parks to refurbish Marcy Playground, a beloved Bedford-Stuyvesant park that was in need of some TLC,” Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams said in a statement.

Including new basketball backboards with the TBS logo, of course. Fresh asphalt and a mural from artist Askew One.

It’s the first upgrade Marcy Park has gotten in a decade, according to NYC Parks department.

Yet it’s the back in the day times Tracy remembers most.

“I played on this court as a kid. I actually cut my finger on a glass bottle here and the blood I spilled on the court was for these kids. This is for Brooklyn. It makes me so happy.” Tracy said at the event.