This year’s NBA All-Star weekend will generate a deeper sense of fulfillment for Jay-Z.
The rap mogul, along with Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James, will be on hand to donate 150 musical instruments to students at the Mesa Arts Academy.
The duo, who have partnered with the event sponsor Sprite Green, will also sign a donated piano that will be located in the school’s auditorium.
More than 200 students are expected to meet, interact with and perform for Jay-Z and James during the event.
In addition to the Academy, the instruments will go to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley.
For Ramon Elias, the donations will provide proper motivation for youth to fully explore their musical potential.
“Our kids love to perform, and we know the instruments and musical equipment . . . will be a great way to motivate the kids to go to class and come to the Club after school,” the Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley president told The Arizona Republic.
Located in Mesa, Arizona, the Mesa Arts Academy is a free charter school that blends arts and music from kindergarten through eighth grade.
The visit to the school is one of a string of events James and Jay-Z will attend during All-Star weekend.
The pair will travel to Phoenix to host their third annual Two Kings Dinner event on Saturday (February 14).
Although it wasn’t mentioned how James and Jay-Z became aware of the Academy, a spokesperson for the stars cited the duo’s desire to do something besides the dinner as their motivation to make a charitable donation to a deserving organization involving music.
James is among various NBA greats who will play in the All-Star game, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday (February 15) at the Airways Center in Phoenix.
Tip-off for the event, which will feature a halftime performance by R&B crooner John Legend, will be at 8 p.m.
