The Holiday season is approaching and the year is coming to an end. It’s during this time of the year when everyone seems to be in a giving spirit. The CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg – and his wife Priscilla Chan – announced that they are donating 99% of their Facebook shares to their new charity, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (over the course of their lives). That amount is currently around $45 billion USD.
There are also a lot of rap artists that are giving back in various ways. Here are a few:
In 2013, Big Sean launched the Sean Anderson Foundation. Its mission is to lend aid to the disadvantaged youth of Detroit as well as across the nation. Just last week, Sean and another Detroit native Deelishis put together something for the people of Detroit for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Everyone has heard about “LudaDay Weekend.” It’s a charity event that was created by Ludacris in 2005 and has grown to be something amazing. This fundraiser gives back to the Atlanta community. He always has the biggest named celebrities come out and support. Last year “LudaDay Weekend,” raised over $200,000.
Do you know who gave the University of Southern California $70 million in 2013? Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine gave the donation to help start up the USC Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy for Arts, Technology, and Business of Innovation. This program is set to help the next generation of dreamers, learn all the tools they need to achieve greatness.
50 cent might have created “Power,” but he is also using his power to create opportunities. He plans on feeding one billion Africans using the money he raised from his beverage venture Street King Energy Drinks and his headphones SMS Audio. All the proceeds are going to the Feeding America Charity.
Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar was named the 35th District’s generational icon earlier this year by the California State Senate. He was recognized for his donations to the Compton Unified School District, as well as other nonprofit organizations. He even visited a school in New Jersey after hearing that one of their teachers used his lyrics from “To Pimp a Butterfly” in a lesson.
For those that think Hip Hop and philanthropy don’t go together, you’re wrong. These examples were just the tip of the iceberg.
