Charlotte Benefit Concert Raises $25,000 For Family In Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

Charlotte Benefit Concert Raises $25,000 For Family In Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

POSTED: 11:15 pm EDT July 30, 2008
UPDATED: 11:28 pm EDT July 30, 2008

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Hundreds of people withstood a steamy Wednesday night in South Park to attend a benefit concert at Symphony Park to raise money for a local family chosen by Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

The show's producers said the concert raised about $25,000 for the King family.

Jennifer Wojten, of Charlotte, wrote a check for $50 while at the concert.

"This family is definitely deserving of it and helps out anyway they can so we should help out anyway we can," she said.

Peyton Savage, another supporter, agreed.

"It's always nice to be able to come out and do anything for somebody whether or not you know them," said Savage.

Anyone who donated during the concert received a Extreme Makeover Home Edition t-shirt.

Everyone from former Carolina Panther Mike Rucker to cast members from the show turned out to help the King family.

Many believe the large crowd tonight shows just how generous folks in the Queen City are.

"People in charlotte have huge hearts and they always want to help out anyway they can," said Wojten.

"So this community will pull together and bond together to help out."

Kim Sipes, a volunteer, said she didn't think twice about being a part of it as she and several others made their way through the crowd Wednesday with buckets accepting donations.

"People have been great. They're so friendly," said Sipes. "They're yelling for me if I can't see them. They're waving me down!"

All the money raised from the concert will go to the King's building fund and scholarships for the family's children.
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'Let the Kids Grow Day,' a Back to School Program Created by Master P, Romeo, Jim Finkl, Gee Gee the Giraffe, and Heal the Hood Organization

'Let the Kids Grow Day,' a Back to School Program Created by Master P, Romeo, Jim Finkl, Gee Gee the Giraffe, and Heal the Hood Organization
Provides Free School Supplies and Resources to Inner-City Kids

MEMPHIS, TN--(Marketwire - July 30, 2008) - Master P and Romeo are known for their ongoing commitment to giving back to communities through their education and sports programs: P.Miller Youth Centers and Basketball Camps, as well as Gee Gee the Giraffe cartoon, toys, and books. In collaboration with Jim Finkl and Heal the Hood Organization, Master P and Romeo have created the First Annual 'Let the Kids Grow Day,' which will kick off at Mud Island River Park in downtown Memphis, Tennessee on August 1, 2008. Similar events are planned for Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, and California.

This positive, fun-filled, and free event, sponsored by P.Miller Clothing, Jim Finkl Enterprises, and Wal-Mart, will provide free school supplies for less fortunate kids. Master P and Romeo are once again happy to work with Wal-Mart since with the slumping economy and gas prices on the rise, they have worked hard to take the cost out of high fashion by bringing their affordable P.Miller clothing line to Wal-Mart.

This event will also serve as a platform to educate kids in saying 'no' to drugs, staying out of gangs, as well as teaching the importance of respect, education, reading, and music. There will be teachers, counselors, nurses, and doctors in attendance, teaching kids about health, nutrition, childhood obesity as well as the ever-growing importance of saving our planet through recycling and conserving energy.

One of the event's main goals is to prepare minority inner-city kids today for high school and college and start them on a path to better careers for tomorrow. This is something that Master P can relate to, stating "I'm grateful to change my life because it's important to catch up now than having to catch up later."

As an incentive to broaden and further their education, the organization encourages children ages 6-16 to submit an essay addressing the issue: "Why Education Is Important." Ten essay winners will be chosen to each receive a $500 shopping spree.

The event will also have live music entertainment as well as motivational speakers by positive role models in the community such as City Mayor Willie Herenton, County Mayor A.C. Wharton, and newly elected School Board Superintendent, Dr. Kriner Cash.

Accompanying Master P & Romeo will be Gee Gee the Magical Giraffe. Romeo created the character Gee Gee the Giraffe in order to connect with the youth, make learning fun, as well as provide a positive role model that they can relate to. Gee Gee the Giraffe is reminiscent of other children's characters such as Barney and Dora the Explorer.

"If you reach kids with a positive message and instill the importance of education when they're young, they'll have that mentality for the rest of their life," said Romeo. "Gee Gee is going to be a true role model and teach kids through music, books, song, dance, live action, and animation." For more information, visit geegeegiraffe.com

"We will be able to take care of 5,000 kids on our own for this event," continued Master P. "Hopefully with the help of corporate sponsors, we'll be able to do even more next year. This is only the beginning."

Volunteers and donors can make a difference by joining the Let the Kids Grow Foundation. With the support of our community we can truly make a difference in developing more positive young minds and starting them on a track for a better future.

Full Story from previous posting! Recording Superstars to Remake Iconic Doublemint, Juicy Fruit and Big Red Gum Jingles

Recording Superstars to Remake Iconic Doublemint, Juicy Fruit and Big Red Gum Jingles Chris Brown, Julianne Hough and Ne-Yo deliver fresh twists to Wrigley's Brands!!!!

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company (NYSE:WWY), the world’s No. 1 maker of chewing gum, today announced it will partner with pop sensation Chris Brown, rising country star and reality dance show champion Julianne Hough and hip-hop artist Ne-Yo to re-record three of the Wrigley’s Brands well-known jingles: the unforgettable Doublemint “Double Your Pleasure” (1960); the famous Juicy Fruit “Taste is Gonna Move Ya” (1983); and the Big Red “Kiss a Little Longer” (1979), respectively.

“We are thrilled to be rolling out these musical makeovers for some of America’s favorite chewing gums,” said Paul Chibe, Wrigley’s Vice President of North American Gum Marketing. “Chris, Julianne and Ne-Yo are three diverse, multi-talented performers who were able to bring their individuals styles and interpretations to the re-released Doublemint, Juicy Fruit and Big Red jingles.”

To celebrate the relationship, Doublemint gum hosted an invite-only concert for 1,000 guests at Times Square’s Nokia Theater where Brown performed selections from his latest album Exclusive: The Forever Edition along with his first live rendition of the remade jingle. Wrigley’s offered fans the opportunity to attend the exclusive concert via radio giveaways with New York’s Hot 97, Power 105 and Z100. In addition, consumers were also invited to line-up at three pre-determined New York landmarks as well as outside the Nokia Theater to gain entrance into the exclusive event on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The updated jingles are part of Wrigley’s new television and radio advertising campaign that launches in August and follow the spring introduction of the new Slim Pack™ envelope across all the Wrigley’s™ Brands– Big Red, Doublemint, Juicy Fruit, Winterfresh® and Wrigley’s Spearmint®. The summer release of Brown’s smash hit, Forever, which featured the unmistakable Doublemint gum jingle lyrics, kicked-off the creative partnership between Brown and Doublemint gum. Wrigley consulted with Translation Advertising (NY) to conceptualize and identify the artists behind the jingle remakes.

About Wrigley
The Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company is a recognized leader in confections with a wide range of product offerings including gum, mints, hard and chewy candies, lollipops, and chocolate. The Company has global sales of $5.4 billion and distributes its world-famous brands in more than 180 countries. Three of these brands – Wrigley's Spearmint®, Juicy Fruit®, and Altoids® – have heritages stretching back more than a century. Other well-loved brands include Doublemint®, Life Savers®, Big Red®, Boomer®, Pim Pom®, Winterfresh®, Extra®, Freedent®, Hubba Bubba®, Orbit®, Excel®, Creme Savers®, Eclipse®, Airwaves®, Solano®, Sugus®, P.K.®, Cool Air® and 5™.