By Nolan Strong and Dove
St. Louis rapper Chingy is giving back to his St. Louis community through his non-profit organization Chingy for Change.
The Chingy for Change Foundation supports children that are less fortunate, through scholarships, mentoring programs and other communal activities.
"On Thanksgiving and Christmas we go out and give turkeys and food to the families that can't afford to have nice Thanksgiving dinners, and on Christmas we go around and give a certain amount of toys to the less fortunate families that probably wont be able to shop and afford to trade gifts," Chingy told AllHipHop.com.
A few months ago, the foundation gave away four college scholarships with the support of a Hip-Hop icon.
"I did this event in St. Louis and Russell Simmons came through for me at the gathering and I gave those scholarships away to the kids, so that was pretty cool," Chingy said.
On Christmas, the Chingy for Change Foundation will distribute toys to various Boys & Girls Clubs in the St. Louis area.
Other rappers are supporting those in need in their local communities during the Thanksgiving/Christmas holidays.
T.I. and The K.I.N.G. Foundation are giving away hundreds of Thanksgiving dinners at Club Crucial today (November 22), while Chicago rapper Bump J will give away hundreds of turkeys throughout the South and Eastside’s of the city.
"I come from one of the toughest neighborhoods in Chicago that's surrounded by drugs, gang-banging and violence and I'm blessed to have made it out," Bump J. told AllHipHop.com. I'm living, breathing proof that despite your environment, or negatives in your past, if you stay focused, you can turn life from negative to positive. I feel it's my duty to share my good fortune as much as I can."
On Friday (November 20), Ludacris sponsored a turkey giveaway at the New Piney Grove Baptist Church in Decatur, GA, where an estimated 500 local families were fed.
T.I. and Atlanta radio personality Ryan Cameron also raised over $160,000 for the Hosea Williams Feed The Hungry and Homeless Foundation, to save the organization’s 38th annual Thanksgiving dinner.
In addition to T.I. and Cameron, rappers like Jermaine Dupri, Big Boi, Busta Rhymes, WMG Vice President Kevin Liles, Wyclef Jean and others pledged substantial amounts of money.
In Los Angeles, California, Cash Money Records rapper Glasses Malone and his Blu Division imprint hosted a turkey giveaway for low-income families at legendary record store VIP Records.
The rapper teamed with County Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite, who’s office contributed 50 turkey’s towards the effort.
"Our office serves the unincorporated communities of Watts, Compton and Los Angeles," said Renita Bowlin, a representative from County Supervisor Burke's office. "We love to see and support those efforts that encourage a sense of community among our residents."
According to Malone, this is the first project in a number of upcoming community outreach efforts to foster improvement in his community.
"We're taking the West Coast by storm with great music, as well as our involvement with improving conditions in the ghetto. We've sat back long enough. It's our time and I am committed to making a change out West."