Category Archives: Man Candy Monday

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.

Will Smith Donates Bottled Water to Flint Schools

Will and Jada Smith are using their new bottled water company– JUST–for good.

The power couple is donating their eco-friendly water to Flint, Michigan public schools each month, until city’s water becomes drink-able again, Huffington Post reports.

So far 9,200 b̶o̶t̶t̶l̶e̶s̶ cartons have been shipped to the schools.

With so much more of the plant-based H20 on the way, says JUST CEO Ira Laufer.

“This just makes sense for us to do,” Laufer told MLive. “After reading more about [Flint’s] challenges and the mayor objecting to pulling bottled water from the schools, we thought, ‘Let’s help these kids.’”

Where there is a will there’s a way. Sorry, had too.

On a serious note this is a great gesture for a company that is barely four years old. Given how toxic the water levels still are in Flint–EPA rated city’s lead at 397 parts per billion, the standard is 15 ppb.

Yeah, keep them cartons coming, big Willy.

Kevin Durant Donated $10 Million to Hometown College Prep Program

Kevin Durant is the Golden boy of Prince George County.

Not just for that championship rock on his finger.

The Maryland native donated $10 million to jumpstart a local College Track program, which helps low income students prepare for college, The Washington Post reports.

The intense (decade long!) program is designed for test prep, tutoring and matching students with colleges.

High school students also to have to commit three to five hours a week after school and summer school.

The program aims to support low income families whose members never attended college.

Kevin Durant’s investment will bring College Track program to the East Coast for the first time. Centering on Maryland and Washington D.C. area.

But of course his heart lies with the first College Track program in Seat Pleasant, Md.

“This hits home, because it’s right in the neighborhood where me and my buddies lived,” said Durant,who opens the center later on this year.

The College Program, started 20 years ago in California by Powell Jobs, has helped over 3,000 students in nine centers in California, Louisiana and Colorado.

Durant, who got involved in the College Program early last year, says his ultimate goal is to level the playing field.

“We didn’t have the resources to get our minds thinking about the next level,” Durant told The Post. “I want to do my part, whatever it is. If College Track students want to be the next Steve Jobs or the next influencer or the next tastemakers, they can get there.”

No doubt with Durant’s big boost.

How Kendrick Lamar, Serena Williams and TI are Putting Students On to Wakanda State of Mind

The Black cat is officially out of the bag, y’all.

The world’s first black superhero movie came out last weekend, and the biggest celebs wanted kids to witness the melanin magnificence for themselves.

Kendrick Lamar and writing partner Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith–who brought the Black Panther: The Album soundtrack to life, and it’s officially No. 1 on the charts– bought out three cinemas for 1,000 kids living in three different Watts area housing projects to see Black Panther on Saturday, BillBoard reports.

Over the weekend, Serena Williams hosted a private screening of the Marvel movie for girls in the Black Girls code org that fosters a career in science and technology.

Not a bad look for young girls to see, considering Princess Shuri was hooking up Black Panther with the illest tech to defeat his enemies.

T.I. hooked up 300 ATL families with early release Black Panther movie tickets.

“Me and @Walmart joined efforts to support the community with free tickets for customers to attend an Advance Screening of @MarvelStudios @blackpanther,” he wrote in a post on Twitter on Feb. 13.”We gave away 300 tickets to deserving families yesterday at the Cascade Walmart store.” #Blackpanther

This movement is too important to pass up. Y’all better grab that dashiki because…

WAKANDA FOREVER

Drake’s Taking Over Miami with Philanthropy

Last name Ever, first Name Greatest.

Guess Drake was rapping about his giving game on “Forever” because he’s seriously on a roll in the 305.

On Monday he was writing checks to a college student and Miami Senior High School. On Tuesday the “God’s Plan” rapper was surprising shoppers at Sabor Tropical Supermarket with $50,000 worth of groceries.

According to Wral.com, Drake pulled up to the market with a megaphone announcing his good deed. No doubt the cameras (Drizzy had a film crew with him) caught the delight of the lucky shoppers as he shook hands and took selfies.

“No one knew he was coming at all, we just came to do groceries. Cameras were being set up so we were all wondering what was to happen,” shopper Guille Deza told E! News.

A real king [went] out and paid for everyone’s groceries in the store, all the while encouraging people to more lol. BE GOOD AND IT’LL COME RIGHT BACK AROUND!!! so much love and bless this man 100 times over for all his generosity,” Deza wrote on Instagram.

Drizzy wasn’t done yet. He surprised residents at a local homeless shelter–Lotus Village–and wrote a $50,000 check for the organization. Plus, donated a van…and showered 130 women at the shelter with a $150 Target gift card. And handed out toys and games for the 140 kids living there.

Drake’s generosity spree even got to him. He posted on Instagram “Last 3 days were the best I have had in a very long time…there’s nothing like seeing people experience a joyful moment when you can tell they really need it the most.”

Okay, Drake you may be G.O.A.T on giving.

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.

View this post on Instagram

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 🙏🏾

A post shared by Destiny Paris James (@_destinyparis) on

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

Rapper Lil Jon Opens Second School in Ghana

Whaaattt?

Lil Jon aka school master J (I made that up, btw) broke ground last month on his second school in Ghana.

The “Turn Down For What” rapper teamed up with Pencils of Promise charity–whose mission is to “provide educational tools to kids around the world”–to fund the West African primary schools.

Mafi Atitekpo DA Primary School is the second school under the crunk rapper’s belt, and will enroll 313 children.

Abomayaw D.A. Kindergarten, also in the Mafi Atitekpo village, opened last October in honor of his late mother.

Lil Jon donated $70,000 to build both schools.

Because he saw a community in need when visiting last year. Telling CNN this:

“When I saw the conditions where these children were trying to learn, one community they had a big mango tree and two classes were sitting under the mango tree and that’s not a condition conducive with learning,” he told CNN. “Kids are going to get distracted, plus it’s extremely hot. It compelled me to want to do more.“

The Grammy winner admitted having a kid in college also influenced him to open his wallet.

And the promise of a major payback.

“One of these kids could grow up to be a scientist, a lawyer, an astronaut, the president of their country. I could create an environment where all these things could happen.”

Okkkaaayy

Thank You, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr

There are so many reasons to thank this undeniable trailblazer.

The most important to me is to love one another for who they are and not what you think they may be.

It’s a lesson that couldn’t come at a better time.

Considering there is a racist occupying the White House that continuously spreads messages of hate.

I choose to cling to Dr. King’s message, and I thank him for it because it’s one I can pass on to my unborn children and in turn their children and on and on and on.

Because while everyone else would like to focus on the kids yelling hate speech at their Mexican classmate, it warmed my heart to see other students standing up to them.

Let’s continue to stand up. Let’s continue to resist.

Like Martin showed us.

Stephen Curry Surprised LA Teen Battling Cancer with Warriors Tickets

Stephen took a break from shooting his powerhouse three pointers against the Clippers Saturday (Go Warriors!!) to show love to his No. 1 fan sitting court side.

Thirteen-year-old Jaylen Winzer from South LA has been dreaming about meeting his idol for a while now.

Judging by the two championship rings he got to rock, it was worth the wait.

Jaylen, who suffers from a rare bone cancer, shared his story with ABC7 last year. Family friend Shirell Henderson used her foundation, BrittiCares International, to raise awareness of Jaylen’s condition.

The Foundation also decorated Jaylen’s room with all things Golden State before he returned home from the hospital.

Steph used FaceTime to invite the teen and his family to the game.

Soon after Jaylen and Steph were exchanging gifts. Jaylen got Steph a tee with the “I’M A WARRIOR FOR JAYLEN” in it and the Golden State logo, of course.

Steph gave Jaylen the jersey and sneakers he was playing in.

Let’s hope he aired out the jersey.

“I appreciate you coming,” Curry said.

“I appreciate you having me,” Jaylen replied.