News One » Philanthropy

Ali Center Part Of Legacy To His Social Activism

Associated Press — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 23:09:09 +0000

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Muhammad Ali’s fists made him famous, but his plight as a social activist was perhaps his biggest fight.

At the Muhammad Ali Center, visitors see the three-time world heavyweight champion railing against war, segregation and poverty. They also see the softer side of a man embracing spiritual growth.

On Saturday, the center will be in the limelight when Ali is surrounded by friends for a private party celebrating his 70th birthday. Having spent more than a decade raising money to create and operate the six-story center in downtown Louisville, Ali and his wife, Lonnie, are using the champ’s latest personal milestone to benefit the 6-year-old complex.

The party, in a banquet room offering a sweeping view of the Ohio River, will double as a $1,000-per-person fundraiser for Ali’s beloved center, where the boxer’s words are inscribed throughout the exhibits.

Australian Ben Physick, who toured the center with his wife recently, said he was especially moved by Ali’s pronouncement that he was put on the planet not to be a great boxer but to fight injustice and racism.

“It isn’t just about boxing, it’s about being a better person,” Physick said.

The center traces Ali’s remarkable life and the turbulent times that helped shape one of the world’s most recognizable figures. Ali, who is battling Parkinson’s disease, turns 70 on Tuesday.

“The Ali Center is a vessel for sharing Muhammad’s legacy and championing his social significance,” Lonnie Ali said Thursday in a statement to The Associated Press. “The center empowers people – especially youth – to create transformational change in the world.”

Born as Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on Jan. 17, 1942, he grew up in a predominantly black West End neighborhood of Louisville.

He took up boxing at age 12, later becoming a top amateur boxer and Olympic gold medalist.

Ali, raised in a Baptist family, announced his conversion to the Muslim faith soon after defeating Sonny Liston in 1964 to win the heavyweight crown for the first time. He moved to Miami in the early 1960s but kept his close ties to Louisville, where he has a home today. The Alis also have homes in Michigan and Arizona.

The center showcases Ali’s grace and power as a boxer with video replays of his most famous bouts and plenty of memorabilia, including a rhinestone-studded boxing robe, a gift from Elvis Presley.

Visitors can also shadowbox, punch a speed bag and lean into a heavy bag that lets them feel the power of an Ali punch.

The center focuses on Ali’s causes outside boxing with a series of video, photograph and text displays. Ali envisions the center as a place to promote world understanding and peace.

“His legacy reaches so far beyond the ring,” said Jeanie Kahnke, a center spokeswoman.

Though largely absent from the public eye now, Ali remains a powerful symbolic figure. Last year, Ali, along with other high-profile political dignitaries, backed efforts to free two American hikers held captive for more than two years in an Iranian prison. The hikers were eventually released.

The center, built around the accomplishments of someone who called himself “The Greatest,” encourages visitors to reach their own potential by promoting six core values: respect, confidence, conviction, dedication, giving and spirituality.

That message still resonates today, Ali’s wife said.

“Muhammad and I always envisioned an organization that would use Muhammad’s life as a model to encourage people everywhere to `keep their eyes on the prize,’ to work hard to reach their potential and to achieve their dreams,” Lonnie Ali said.

Muhammad Ali’s social commentary is woven into the displays.

“There are lots of moments when you sort of get chills,” said Physick, the Australian.

One display revives painful memories of segregation. It features a lunch counter and a gruff voice to mimic the experience of blacks who were denied seats. Ali was refused service at a Louisville restaurant after he returned home as a gold medal winner in the 1960 Olympics.

Other exhibits replay the turbulent 1960s and Ali’s role as a civil rights supporter and opponent of the Vietnam War.

Ali was stripped of his boxing title in 1967 for refusing to go into the Army during the war, citing his religious beliefs.

His decision turned him into a polarizing figure, reviled by many in the U.S.

The center doesn’t shy away from those days. One exhibit features a congressman’s comments that Ali’s decision was “an insult to every mother’s son serving in the armed forces.”

Ali, who was convicted of draft evasion, took his legal battle all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which in 1971 ruled in his favor.

The center has drawn visitors from more than 100 countries. Cases display the Presidential Medal of Freedom he received from President George W. Bush, and the torch that Ali carried at the opening of the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

“Some people have come to Louisville just to experience this,” Kahnke said. “They’ve never been to the United States before. I think they feel like it’s the closest thing to the champ that they’ll ever get.”

Physick, who lives in Sydney, was born two years before Ali’s boxing career ended in 1981. He toured the center as part of a trip across the U.S.

In a way, Ali was a fixture in his boyhood home – his brother had a life-size photo of Ali standing over a defeated opponent.

“The only reason we came to Louisville was to see the Ali Center,” he said. “I think I could spend a whole day here.”

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Kid Rock Teams With Detroit Church To Help For The Holidays

Associated Press — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:00:52 +0000

DETROIT (AP) — Kid Rock is teaming up with a Detroit church to give away hundreds of gift baskets and retail gift certificates to needy families in the area where he got his start and still calls home.

The musician’s nonprofit organization joined Hartford Memorial Baptist Church on Wednesday to distribute 100 gift certificates for Meijer retail and grocery stores, along with more than 300 gift baskets.

Kid Rock, who was born Robert Ritchie, grew up and lives in suburban Detroit. He and the Kid Rock Foundation have been honored this year for their philanthropic contributions by Goodfellows Detroit and the NAACP’s Detroit branch.

Kid Rock is known for dabbling in various musical styles, from hip-hop and hard rock to country and Southern rock.

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10 Great Moments in Hip-Hop Philanthropy

Sia Tiambi Barnes — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:31:59 +0000

In a recent sit-down with Time.com, Moshe Levi (pictured), the rapper formerly known as Shyne (most-famously known for a voice reminiscent of Biggie and most-infamously known for his involvement in a 1999 New York nightclub shooting), went into detail about his legal name change; what kind of content to expect on his forthcoming albums, Gangland and Messiah; and what his gripes are with hip-hop. Of his criticisms, Levi said, “Hip-Hop culture is not a philanthropic culture.”

While it remains to be seen how his music will be distributed and categorized (he’s had deals with Def Jam and Cash Money since his release from the pen), here are 10 examples from 2011 that prove hip-hop is philanthropic — and we’re not even including the most-active hip-hop philanthropists Russell Simmons and Wyclef Jean.

1. KENDRICK LAMAR, XXL’s FRESHMAN CLASS REACH OUT FOR WOMEN

MC Kendrick Lamar donated the proceeds from “Keisha’s Song (Her Pain),” off his debut studio album Section.80, to address the abusive cycle of prostitution. XXL‘s 2011 Freshman Class also contributed to the ending of prostitution by headlining a concert that benefited two organizations, Downtown Women’s Center and Project Rural India Social and Health Improvement (RISHI). [ocweekly.com]

2. ASHER ROTH’S HUNGER CAMPAIGN

Preparing for his Def Jam debut, Philly-based Asher Roth has decided to give the proceeds of his latest interim project, the Pabst & Jazz Sessions, to the Philadelphia Hunger Coalition. The collection is slated for a Dec. 20 iTunes release. [ballerstatus.com]

3. LIL WAYNE’S CASH MONEY

With so much money made from the Young Money, Cash Money, Universal labels, it makes sense that Lil Wayne would team up with Discover Financial Services to issue a Lil Wayne-endorsed pre-paid debit card. Proceeds from the card sales go toward his One Family Foundation. [americanbanker.com]

4. WIZ KHALIFA SPARKS GREEN CONSCIOUSNESS

One in three people lack access to quality water, so Wiz Khalifa teamed up with Green For All (Yes, isn’t it ironic, or coincidental, or kismet?) on World Water Day to launch a Campus Consciousness Tour and a public education campaign called “Keep It Fresh.” [greenforall.org]

5. MAC MILLER MAKES-A-WISH

Fulfilling a promise that he would donate $50k to the Make-A-Wish Foundation if he got $50k worth of pre-orders for his debut, Blue Slide Park, Mac Miller signed a check to the foundation. The album eventually sold 145,000 copies in its first week and entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1. [theboombox.com]

6. 50 CENT ENLISTS DEEPAK

50 Cent’s Street King movement went from Twitter to the auric field, when he introduced a new commercial featuring Deepak Chopra. Sales from the energy drink go toward his partnership with the United Nation’s Food Programme. [killerhiphop.com]

7. NICKI MINAJ’S BARBIE

Nicki Minaj has partnered with Mattel to make a limited-edition doll modeled after her own Barbie persona (pink hair and all). With an opening bid of $1,000, the proceeds will go to Project Angel Food, which provides food for people living with HIV/AIDS. [billboard.com]

8. B.o.B.’s B-DAY GIFT

B.o.B, named a Forbes‘ 2011 Hip-Hop Top Earner, took a moment from his 23rd birthday celebration to donate $10,000 to Hosea Feed the Hungry and Homeless. [hiphopwired.com]

9. FABOLOUS’ ROYAL COAT DRIVE

Fabolous helped to meet the goals of New York Cares with a month-long coat drive sponsored by his A Fabolous Way Foundation. The first annual 3 Kings Coats Drive helped to bring in 100,000 coats, which kept about 10,000 more youth warm than the organization was able to outfit last year. [xxl.com]

10. JAY-Z TAPS FINANCIAL FRIENDS

Jay-Z continues to set his sights on big-money tickets. The mogul announced plans to perform two concerts at Carnegie Hall in February to raise money for his Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation and the United Way of New York City. Tickets went on sale Dec. 12, priced at $500 to $2,500. A portion of the tickets, reserved for the public, will be offered at lower prices on Jan. 30. The foundation has provided more than 750 students with at least $1.1 million in scholarship money. [nytimes.com]

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Al Sharpton And Don King Unite To Feed Those In Need

NewsOne Staff — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 01:28:55 +0000

MSNBC host Al Sharpton and iconic boxing promoter Don King will give away hundreds of turkeys in Harlem, Queens, and other parts of the City on Monday. It all takes place at the National Action Network 106 West 145th Streetin New York, Monday, December 19, 2011 1:00 p.m. In addition to giving away turkeys at NAN’s Harlem headquarters, NAN and Don King are giving turkeys to the Sean Elijah Bell Community Center where William Bell, Sean Bell’s father and the director of the center will give away turkeys next week. There are also turkeys being given to FDNY.

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Top 7 Black Philanthropists

Johan Thomas — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 21:39:10 +0000

While it is commonly believed that philanthropy is a custom reserved for the white, super wealthy of the world, many African Americans, rich and poor, have donated their time and money to community-based organizations, churches and charitable causes. From the abolition of slavery, to the establishment and construction of churches and schools, to providing humanitarian aid to the developing world; giving back major has become a major tenet of the African American experience. In the spirit of this tradition, NewsOne highlights some of today’s top Black philanthropists.

7. Wyclef Jean

Appointed Haiti’s Goodwill Ambassador, Wyclef Jean has much attention to the plight of his home country. Jean has stood by his native Haiti through the worst of times coordinating efforts to encourage the United Nations to raise over 100 million dollars for the countries hurricane relief, while also raising charitable donations through his own organization Yele Haiti to support the country’s earthquake relief efforts. At the same time, Jean’s charitable endeavor recently came under fire when the New York Post reported that only a third of the donations collected by Jean’s organization were used to fund emergency efforts in Haiti. The paper also reported that about a $1 million went to a Florida company that doesn’t actually exist.

6. Magic Johnson

In 1991, the year Johnson disclosed to the public that he had contracted the HIV virus, he founded the “The Magic Johnson Foundation,” Since, the foundation has spearheaded numerous efforts that address the educational, health and social needs of ethnically diverse urban communities. Johnson has also invested large sums in the revitalization of urban neighborhoods across the U.S., opening retail establishments, which helped to create jobs in some of the most underserved communities.

5. Russell Simmons

When it comes to giving among the Hip-hop community, icon and entrepreneur Russell Simmons stands above the rest. AOL reports that Simmons’s Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation and his Hip Hop Summit Action Network have directed millions of dollars to programs that serve urban youth, in addition to helping establish two arts exhibits and education facilities.

4. Tom Joyner

Since 1998, the Tom Joyner Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping student continue their educations at historically black colleges and universities, has raised more than $55 million, AOL reports. In addition to supporting the dreams of thousand of African American students, Joyner’s charitable giving has also bolstered a variety of initiatives such as HIV/AIDS programs.

3. Bill Cosby

Bill and Camille have proven their dedication to education through their charitable giving. According to the Atlanta Post, Cosby’s $20 million gift to Spellman college is one of the largest ever given to a historically black college. The couple also donated $1.3 million to Fisk University and founded the Hello Friend/Ennis William Cosby Foundation (named after their deceased son) to support children with learning differences.

2. Michael Jackson

Jackson was among the first celebrities to lend his support in the first against HIV/AIDS, donating an estimated $300 million to various foundations, about.com reports. Perhaps Jackson’s most notable philanthropic effort came in 1985 when he, along with the likes of Harry Belafonte, Lionel Richie and Quincy Jones gathered a diverse collection of musicians to record a remake of the 1985 hit song “We Are the World,” which directed the world attention and raised for African famine relief.

1. Oprah Winfrey

Perhaps the most well-known Black philanthropist, it is estimated that Oprah Winfrey’s charitable foundations– Oprah’s Angel Network, the Oprah Winfrey Foundation and the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation—have donated more than $300 million. According to the Atlanta post Winfrey’s Angel’s Network has raised more than $80 million for charitable projects and grants globally.

Great! NFL Star Gives Gift Of Education To HS Students

Casey Gane-McCalla, Lead Blogger — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 15:02:08 +0000

Philadelphia Eagle defensive back Nnamdi Asomugha has been dubbed “the senator” by teammates due to his philanthropy involving youth and education.

Asomugha has started “Asamugha College Tour for Scholars” which takes high school students on college tours.

The Grio reports:

On what inspires him to give back, Asomugha said, “Anytime that other family members from Nigeria wanted to come over, they would house them. You know, so there would be times when we would be at home where there would be 10 or 11 people in a house that was meant for five. There was that sort of service mentality that was always in the house and it’s just helping out.”

Conn. Woman Walking Africa To Raise Millions For Water

Johan Thomas — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 22:07:14 +0000

A Manchester, Conn. woman is preparing to embark on an ambitious adventure, trekking 7,000 miles across the continent of Africa.

Amy Russell hopes to average 20 miles per day, six days a week to raise money for clean drinking water for people in underdeveloped countries.

Russell’s organization, Walk4Water is sponsoring the effort in the hopes that she will raise upward of $8 million dollars for wells, filtration systems and other water-related projects.

In Africa, her group will carry what it needs in backpacks, camping along the way or staying with people who have already agreed to help them during their trek. Russell said each walker expects to go through 14 pairs of shoes.

Steve Harvey Foundation Raises Over $600K For Mentoring Program

NewsOne Staff — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 16:23:46 +0000

New York– The Steve Harvey Foundation raised over $600,000 for the philanthropic entertainer’s mentoring program at last night’s 2nd annual Steve Harvey Gala held in the Cipriani Wall Street in NYC.

The spirited event was co-hosted by Steve Harvey and The View‘s Sherri Shepherd. Harvey addressed the audience with a very genuine and inspirational tone throughout the night.

“Everybody in this room got here because they had a dream, and followed through,” he said in his opening speech.

VIDEO:

The foundation honored and recognized individuals who provide philanthropic services to the community. Of the 500 attendees, Chris Rock, Tyler Perry and Ford Motor Company CEO Alan Mulally were the night’s honorees for their ongoing humanitarian efforts.

The elegant event raised over $600,000 toward Harvey’s mentoring weekend for young men.

“I continue to be inspired by the generosity shown by all the friends and supporters who came out tonight. Marjorie and I are so grateful and will use this money in the spirit it has been given – to change the lives of young men around the world,” Harvey said during his heartfelt speech.

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Chris Paul Donates $500,000 For New Orleans After School Program

Casey Gane-McCalla, Lead Blogger — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 16:13:11 +0000

Essence is reporting that New Orleans Hornets Point Guard Chris Paul has donated half a million dollars to start an after school program in New Orleans called the CP3 After School Zone.

The CP3 Afterschool Zone is set to work with local schools, libraries, recreation centers and other facilities to provide dynamic afterschool grams that tap into each child’s interests, from arts and crafts and music to sports and help with homework

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9-Year-Old Philanthropist Helps Feed Thousands In Miami

Casey Gane-McCalla, Lead Blogger — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 18:30:23 +0000

The Grio is reporting on Joshua Williams, a 9-year-old from Miami who is the President of Joshua’s Heat Foundation which feeds thousands of at risk people in Miami.

At a food giveaway program for 200 underprivileged residents in Miami, the boss is on hand, helping out. One of the smallest philanthropists around, 9-year-old Joshua Williams, is president of Joshua’s Heart Foundation which feeds the poor and visits the elderly.

“Sometimes they are lonely and sad, so we went there to cheer them up, and make them happier,” says the giving youngster. At his insistence, his mother, Claudia Mclean helped set up the foundation three years ago and it has endured with the help of grants and donations, feeding approximately 7,000 people.

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Wyclef Jean Gets Honorary Doctorate Degree

NewsOne Staff — Thu, 27 May 2010 16:48:08 +0000

From BlackVoices.com:

Grammy Award-winning artist and philanthropist Wyclef Jean can now add another distinguished honor to his long list of achievements: The Haitian-born Jean was awarded an honorary doctorate on May 23 from Western Connecticut State University in Danbury.

Dr. Jean delivered a commencement speech, titled “Vision for the Future,” to the graduating class of 2010 and was presented a check from the university in the amount of $9,500 for his organization, Yéle Haiti.

Founded in 2005, Yéle Haiti was one of the leading organizations that stepped up to the plate in the aftermath of this year’s earthquake in Haiti.

Jean, who came from humble beginnings, stated that he had to “ride a donkey to school in Haiti” and stressed the importance of perseverance.

Click here to read more.

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Wyclef Jean Partners With Timberland For Good Cause

News One — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:02:18 +0000

The Timberland Company today announced a partnership with globally renowned Grammy Award-winning musician, humanitarian, and Goodwill Ambassador to Haiti, Wyclef Jean. Wyclef is one of six Earthkeeper Heroes within the company’s 2009 Earthkeepers program, which aims to catalyze a movement of environmental and social activists. A first for both Wyclef Jean and Timberland, this innovative partnership will fuse music, product, digital and social media, service events and concerts to motivate and inspire consumers to take action in protecting the environment.

This new alliance is grounded in a shared commitment to the environment and a passion for improving communities throughout the world. In 2005, Wyclef founded Yele Haiti to build global awareness for Haiti while helping to transform the country through programs in education, sports, the arts and environment. Similarly, Timberland has long advocated global social justice and environmental stewardship, planting more than one million trees and greening 300 communities throughout the world.

“It is not common to find an agreement between an individual and a corporation with so many altruistic synergies. I am truly humbled and excited to begin our journey together. Timberland is not only a brand I have worn as long as I can remember, but now I feel I have gained a friend in Jeff [Swartz, Timberland's President and CEO] and the respect of what is beyond a brand. I have the utmost respect for what he and his company stand for not only in its legacies but in its future. I am looking forward to making change together,” says Wyclef Jean.

“Wyclef is a real-life Earthkeeper who shares our purpose and passion,” says Timberland President and CEO Jeff Swartz. “The work he’s doing in Haiti is a reminder that we all have the power to inspire change – and that joining forces may lead to even greater accomplishments. Between his fans and our customers, you can expect to see big things from this collaboration.”

Timberland and Wyclef officially kicked off their partnership last night at an event at WNYC Radio’s street-level broadcast studio, The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space. The evening began with an interview by environmental justice advocate and founder of Sustainable South Bronx, Majora Carter, as part of The Greene Space’s “NEXT New York Conversation” series, sponsored by HSBC, “The World’s Local Bank.” The interview will air later this month on public radio’s The Promised Land. The interview was followed by a celebration of all Earthkeeper Heroes, highlighted by a live Wyclef performance during which he played new music from his forthcoming album, Wyclef Jean (Carnival House/Columbia/Sony Music) slated for a March 2010 release.

To read more, click here.

Source: PR Newswire