Hip Hop Venture Philanthropy Paves the Way for Community Development
November 1, 2007 (Miami, FL) – While rapper Rick Ross is promoting his sophomore album, "Trilla," set to be released on December 18th, he is taking time out his busy schedule to give back to his community. This upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, Rick Ross Charities Inc., will distribute dozens of turkeys to families in the Miami community who are in need. This will take place on Saturday, November 17, 2007 in Miami Gardens, Florida at the new global franchise, Hip Hop Grub Spot.
Rick Ross Charities Inc. takes on urban community development through venture philanthropy and is aiming to set an example for others in the Hip Hop community to follow suit. By giving back to his community with concrete objectives, he is setting a standard. With the success of the 1st Annual Rick Ross Be Out Day this past August, it was confirmation that the organization is blazing that path to initiate change in the community.
"The best way to stop the violence, crime, and broken homes in the community is through creating jobs and business opportunities and we are doing that along with Hip Hop Grub Spot.™ I am glad to be a part of this," says Rick Ross, Platinum selling rapper from Miami [Slip N' Slide/Def Jam Recordings].
Denise Fonseca Gomes, CEO of HBCUEntrepreneurs.com Inc. and the co-creator of "Hip Hop Grub Spot" states, "Venture capital is missing in Hip Hop right now. What you find in Hip Hop is a strategy to create artists [rappers] as brands, then management approaches major corporations to use these brands to market products and services for product placement opportunities. We are offering venture philanthropy as an alternative to this industry practice as a more profitable long-term solution, where a percentage of proceeds will be spread to charities around the world." Gomes goes on to say, "The Hip Hop industry will allow you to believe that Hip Hop consumers just buy music to dance to. [Hustlin'] showed it was bigger than music. Many in the global Hip Hop community supported Rick Ross because they wanted to see how spending $20 on an album or $.99 for a ringtone or download changes urban society-- they can see that with Hip Hop Grub Spot™ and Rick Ross Charities Inc.
Hip Hop Grub Spot,™ is a Hip Hop themed, healthy fast-food global franchise which incorporates, student executive/entrepreneur training, in-store video gaming provided by Microsoft XBOX, with support by Hip Hop artists and professional athletes. It will also retail magazines, DVDs, mix-tapes, and apparel; while serving fast, fresh, healthy sandwiches, wraps, smoothies, and energy drinks created for the franchise by Florida A&M University students, faculty and alumni, Johnson and Wales University students, faculty and alumni, PepsiCo, and Sysco Foods. The menu items also incorporate the names and likeness of some of today and tomorrow's hottest Hip Hop celebrities. The flagship location will be located in Miami Gardens, Florida and will serve as a franchisable prototype to franchise investors.
NFL Pro-Bowl Running Back, San Francisco 49er Frank Gore states, "I bought Rick Ross' album in 2006 because I identified with "Everyday I'm Hustlin" and I wanted to support a Hip Hop entrepreneur from Miami that went through the same struggle I did as a young black male from the inner-city. I knew that once Rick Ross made it, he would be in a position to help others. I am also in the process of starting a foundation to make it possible for other urban youth entrepreneurs to attain the, "American Dream" of home ownership, college education, and owning your own business."
Miami native, Ali Muhammad, founder of 21st Century Hustle Magazine, Rain Forest Films Executive and former Vibe Magazine Advertising Executive adds, "There has always been a segment of hip hop culture that firmly identifies with the fundamental principles of the American Dream, and is not afraid to live accordingly. Rick Ross belongs to that group that embodies the spirit of capitalism and philanthropy."
Rick Ross Charities, Inc is currently accepting donations to further its cause as well as corporate sponsorship alliances. For magazines (2 page minimum required for Hip Hop Grub Spot distribution and 21st Century Hustle content for in-store magazine retailing and promotion), DVDs, mix-tapes, and apparel retail partnerships with Hip Hop Grub Spot™ or more information regarding Rick Ross Charities Inc., please contact Melissa Sessoms/Chief Communications Officer Hip Hop Grub Spot™ at sessomspr@gmail.com or (305) 772-6825.
About Rick Ross Charities [http://rickrosscharitiesinc.org]
Rick Ross, one of today's most successful hip-hop artists founded Rick Ross Charities Inc. (501 (c) 3), as a mechanism to strengthen the lives of today's youth by creating a solid foundation through educational, social and mentoring programs to ensure a promising future.
About Hip Hop Grub Spot™ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BbWLC63neY ]
Hip Hop Grub Spot™ is a new global healthy fast-food franchise, targeting the Hip Hop consumer. This franchise model in the estimated 20 Billion dollar a year Hip Hop industry, will increase minority franchise ownership, and organically develop entrepreneurship and investments in economically disadvantaged communities across the world through its global partnerships with universities, multi-national corporations, private investment banking networks, community based and non government organizations [NGO]. Hip Hop Grub Spot™ is a pre-IPO company with a trademark in process.
About Frank Gore [ http://www.nfl.com/players/frankgore/profile?id=GOR411171 ]
As a running back, Frank Gore rushed for 1,975 yards at the University Of Miami (FL). He finished his college career ranked seventh on school's career-record list while 17 scores are tied for 10th. He caught 23 passes for 225 yards (9.8 avg.) and returned two kickoffs for 48 yards and recorded five tackles on special teams. He finished the season with career highs for yards rushing (945), carries (197) and touchdowns (8) as senior. Gore also ranked fourth in ACC in rushing yards. His rushing yardage total ranked tenth on the school's season-record list. Gore majored in business management and organization. Currently, the Pro-Bowler plays for the San Francisco 49ers.
About 21st Century Hustle Magazine [http://www.21stcenturyhustle.com ]
Ali Muhammad a Miami native, is a former VIBE Magazine Advertising Executive and is currently an Executive with Rain Forest Films. He created 21st Century Hustle, a quarterly Magazine, to serve as is the number one stop for Hip Hop financial news. The publication covers the worldwide experience of Hip Hop "visionaries", "moguls", "entrepreneurs", and "go-getters" in the investments world. 21st Century Hustle is pioneering hip hop media for venture capital and venture philanthropy for the world's youth.
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Melissa N. Sessoms
Principal/Sessoms PR
CCO/Hip-Hop Grub Spot
President/Hip Hop Grub Spot Publishing
HBCUENTREPRENEURS.COM INC.
(305)772-6825-voice
(786) 272-0424-fax
www.sessomspr.com
"Success is the Standard by Which We Operate"
