Showing posts with label Celebrity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Celebrity. Show all posts

Friday, August 15, 2008

Mourning Receives Community Assist Award for July!!

NEW YORK, August 14, 2008 – Miami HEAT center Alonzo Mourning has been named the recipient of the NBA Community Assist Award for July, in recognition of his outstanding efforts in the community and for his ongoing philanthropic and charitable work.

The seven-time NBA All-Star and well-known philanthropist is being honored for the success of his 12th annual “Zo’s Summer Groove,” held last month in Miami, Florida. This year, Mourning joined forces with his teammate Dwyane Wade and his Wade’s World Foundation, raising money to support a variety of educational programs in the greater Miami area. Thousands of participants turned out for the weeklong event, which included a golf tournament, concert, benefit dinner, youth summit, basketball clinic and a star-studded basketball game that closed out the festivities.

“My passion and commitment to provide kids with the tools they need to succeed is as strong as when I started Alonzo Mourning Charities in 1997,” said Mourning. “Zo’s Summer Groove, our largest fundraiser, has truly been a fun, community-centered effort that provides many programs with the financial support needed to make education a priority.”

Through AM Charities, Mourning’s community assistance continues year-round. Since 1997, the organization has donated millions of dollars to support existing youth programs and toward creating youth enrichment centers, including the Overtown Youth Center in South Florida. Mourning opened the Center in 2003, and today it continues to provide children with a safe environment in which to learn and excel. Another major component of the Alonzo Mourning Charities is the Honey Shine Mentoring Program, which strives to empower young girls through biweekly workshops and summer camps, promoting positive body image, a strong sense of self and helps members to develop into happy, healthy adults.

This marks the second time that Mourning has been named the recipient of the NBA Community Assist Award. He last won the honor in July 2006.

As July’s NBA Community Assist Award recipient, Mourning will receive the David Robinson Plaque, with the inscription, “Following the standard set by NBA Legend David Robinson who improved the community piece by piece.” In addition, a $5,000 donation will be given by the NBA to the Alonzo Mourning Charities.

The league presents the NBA Community Assist Award monthly to recognize players for their charitable efforts. The award honors the NBA player who best reflects the passion that the league and its players have for giving back to their communities.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

VH1 Hip-Hop Honors!!

VH1’s “Hip-Hop Honors” 2008 Set for October Premiere

VH1 has announced the upcoming date for its next A-List tentpole event the “VH1 Hip Hop Honors.” Now in its fifth year, “VH1 Hip Hop Honors” will once again pay tribute to the hip hop luminaries who broke new ground and propelled the genre into a truly global news phenomenon.

VH1 will fete this year’s honorees at a high-energy event at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York taping Thursday, October 2, 2008 and premiering on VH1 on Tuesday, October 7.

The music and influence of each of the honorees, to be named later this summer, will be recognized through performances in collaboration with some of today’s hottest talent. Generations of hip hop will bridge the gap for one exceptional night to set it off with the original style and flavor that sparked and inspired the evolution of the music.

Last year’s show was hosted by Tracy Morgan and honored A Tribe Called Quest, Snoop Dogg, WHODINI, Missy Elliott, the film Wild Style and Teddy Riley and Andre Harrell for New Jack Swing. The star-studded 2007 edition also featured performances by the honorees, along with appearances by Ciara, Eve, Pharrell Williams, The Game, T.I., Timbaland, Bow Wow, Busta Rhymes, Common, T-Pain, Keyshia Cole and Nick Cannon as well as Chris Rock, Harvey Keitel, LL Cool J, Kerry Washington and Diddy. Salt -N- Pepa, Nelly Furtado, Ne-Yo, KRS-One The Teacha, Jermaine Dupri, Grandmaster Caz, Nelly, Mos Def, Kool Moe Dee, Grand Wizzard Theodore and The Chief Rocker Busy Bee.

“As we’ll remind viewers with our upcoming ‘VH1 Rock Honors’ show saluting The Who, VH1’s on-air tentpole events represent the best of music and pop culture entertainment. We work tirelessly and passionately to attract the biggest stars in the industry, create must-see buzz and engage record numbers of viewers,” said Tom Calderone, Executive Vice President and General Manager, VH1.

“Our ‘VH1 Hip Hop Honors’ has grown into one of the most anticipated events in the hip hop community, drawing legends from back-in-the-day to the hottest stars of the genre today. This fifth edition will reflect the true power of hip hop while promising to deliver our best Hip Hop Honors show yet,” he added.

Story pulled from: http://www.hiphoplinguistics.com/

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

"CHOOSE OR LOSE & KANYE WEST PRESENT: HOMECOMING"

Jul 21, 2008
MTV'S CHOOSE OR LOSE & KANYE WEST GIVE BACK TO IRAQ WAR VETERANS WITH THE POWERFUL MTV NEWS DOCUMENTARY
"CHOOSE OR LOSE & KANYE WEST PRESENT: HOMECOMING"

MONDAY, JULY 28TH AT 10PM ET/PT

New York, NY (July 21, 2008) – In this next installment of "Choose or Lose," MTV's ongoing campaign to bring awareness to young veterans issues, MTV News and Kanye West have teamed up to tell the stories of returning veterans in the powerful documentary "Choose or Lose & Kanye West Present: Homecoming" set to air on Monday, July 28 at 10pm ET/PT. In this one hour special, Kanye West, along with MTV's Sway Calloway, give recently returned Iraq war veterans the surprise of their lives by unexpectedly visiting their homes. Viewers will see first-hand the d if ficult and often painful challenges young vets face when they return home. In order to make sure that the stories are heard Sway and Kanye traveled to the homes of veterans, heard their stories and expressed gratitude for their service. But it didn't end there…On behalf of MTV and the Dr. Donda West Foundation, Sway and Kanye gave each veteran a life changing gift. Debts were paid off, rents were taken care of and tuitions were funded.

"There are hundreds of veterans out there who are falling through the cracks. They make the ultimate sacr if ices for us by laying down their lives, but it seems like a lot of them just get forgotten about" said Kanye West. "I know my music inspires and helps a lot of people but you can always do more. I teamed up with MTV and took the opportunity to share the spotlight with these veterans and hear their stories. I went to their homes to listen and get their first hand experiences. I wanted to hear their stories."

"The stories of the veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are important and worth telling." said Dave Sirulnick, Executive Vice President for MTV News and Production. "In conversations with veterans over the last year, it became clear that Kanye's music is used by soldiers in Iraq as a way of connecting to home. Once these veterans return home, their stories are so moving that you can't help but want to do the right thing and help them out."

The "Choose or Lose & Kanye West Present: Homecoming" special will shine the spotlight on three Iraq war veterans, representing the diverse cross-section of America 's returning armed forces. The issues faced by these three young veterans are emblematic of the issues that will be faced by the more than 1.7 million young people who have fought in Iraq and Afghanistan . The documentary will also highlight how viewers can help through extensive resources available through Chooseorlose.com and the Dr. Donda West Foundation.

Viewers can go to Chooseorlose.com and interact with the show and the veterans, find ways to take action on these issues and share their own thoughts on the subject. They can also get more information on the veterans featured by clicking on the following profile links also available on chooseorlose.com: Tirann Lewis, Shameeka Gray and Lorenzo Zarate.

Recent MTV research revealed that nearly 70 percent of young people 18-29 personally know someone who has fought in Iraq . Through this special news presentation, Choose or Lose hopes to elevate the issues of young, new veterans; ensure Presidential candidates address these issues; and mobilize millions of young people to understand and take action in ways to help their peers who have served, who with the greatest honor, ensure that they register and vote.

The "Choose or Lose & Kanye West Present: Homecoming" special will also be available on MTV Mobile through all of its wireless carrier distribution partners. To receive regular alerts on their mobile phone, viewers will be able to text ST to 84465 from MTV's 51 "Street Team '08" members, specially-recruited citizen journalists, one in each state and Washington , D.C. , covering the 2008 elections from a youth perspective. There will also be weekly MTV News stories on issues that affect young veterans. Online viewers will be able to get a sneak peek of the special on Friday, July 25th when the first act will be featured on the home page of AOL and within AOL Music's The Boombox (http://www.theboombox.com/) and PopEater (http://www.popeater.com/) sections, as well as AOL Video (http://video.aol.com/) and AOL News (http://news.aol.com/entertainment).

"Choose or Lose '08" (http://www.ChooseorLose.com) is MTV's Emmy-Award winning campaign to engage, inform and empower young voters on the political issues that matter to them most. First launched in 1992, the campaign has helped fuel several of the largest youth voter turnouts in US history, including in 2004, when it helped inspire nearly 22 million 18-30 year olds to register and vote. Other elements of "Choose or Lose '08" include the pioneering MTV / MySpace Presidential Dialogue Series, which has featured Senators McCain, Clinton, Obama, Edwards, Governor Huckabee and Representative Paul taking unfiltered questions – in person and online, in real time – from youth nationwide; "Choose or Lose Presents Clinton & Obama Answer Young Veterans"; and MTV "Street Team '08," 51 specially-recruited citizen journalists, one in each state and Washington, D.C., covering the 2008 elections from a youth perspective. "Street Team" members file weekly multi-media reports, tailor their coverage for mobile devices and focus on the political issues that most impact young people in their respective states. On July 4th Choose or Lose presented exclusive 60-second video messages on MTV2 from presumptive Presidential candidates, republican Senator John McCain and Democratic Senator Barack Obama. These messages paid tribute to the young men and women who have served in the nation's armed forces. All "Choose or Lose" content – plus more information on the candidates, issues, registering to vote and a spirited debate – can be found on http://www.ChooseorLose.com.

Think MTV (Think.MTV.com) is dynamic, multimedia-driven and enables youth to easily learn more about the issues that matter to them most, share their opinions – via uploaded online videos, podcasts and blogs – and connect with others to make a d if ference. The site is one of the only to reward members for positive actions taken online or off, serving up chances to hang out with socially conscious celebs, access to exclusive MTV events, exposure on MTV and other national media outlets, as well as grants, scholarships and more. For more information or to build a profile and become involved, visit Think.MTV.com.

About The Dr. Donda West Foundation

The mission of the Dr. Donda West Foundation, formerly known as the Kanye West Foundation, is to help combat the severe dropout problem in schools across the United States by partnering with community organizations to provide underserved youth access to music production programs that will enable them to unleash their creative ability and reach their full potential. Kanye's vision, and thus the vision of the Dr. Donda West Foundation, is its inaugural program, "Loop Dreams", a music production program designed to motivate students to stay in school and graduate. Students study hip-hop culture along with its historical roots, positive impacts and negative influences, write music and positive song lyrics, learn to operate music studio equipment, and produce demonstration recordings through an interactive, fully engaging curriculum. Additionally, the young people receive academic support and enrichment so that they stay on track for graduation and future academic success. Dr. Donda West Foundation is committed to providing high quality programs in partnership with community organizations such as Challengers Boys & Girls Club in South Central Los Angeles, California where Loop Dreams is currently implemented.

About MTV

MTV is the dynamic, vibrant experiment at the intersection of music, creativity and youth culture. For over 26 years, MTV has evolved, challenged the norm, and detonated boundaries—giving each new generation a creative outlet and voice that entertains, informs and unites on every platform and screen. On-air, MTV has been the number one rated 24 hour ad-supported cable network P12-24 for 16 straight years. Online, MTV.com scored double-digit growth in 2007 and MTV launched 15 dynamic online communities and eight new virtual worlds. On the go, MTV Mobile is the #1 music brand in the wireless space – delivering 90% more streams than in 2006. And MTV's successful sibling networks MTV2, mtvU and MTV Tr3s each deliver unprecedented customized content, super-serving music fans, college students and young American Latinos like no one else. MTV is part of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Wanna know more? Come on in… http://www.mtvpress.com.

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