I remember Ludacris being honored for giving back to the community during an awards gala in Las Vegas over a decade ago. This past week, Luda was finally paid the highest respects for his tireless community advocacy in his own adopted hometown.
The rapper-actor-businessman was honored by the Georgia legislature for his extensive and long-term philanthropic endeavors in the Atlanta community.
Born Christopher Brian Bridges, Luda was bestowed an award for the work he’s done though the Ludacris Foundation, which was launched at about the same time (2001) his career took off with the acclaimed album debut Back for the First Time. And the foundation continues to power along strong, most famously through the annual LudaDay Weekend, even as his latest album Ludaversal is about to drop on the charts.
Bridges said his foundation works teach children to lead by example and not to “wait on government institutions, social programs and politics alone” to improve communities.
Incidentally, Republican presidential candidate and product of a family political dynasty, Jeb Bush was also at the Georgia Capital to speak about national educational standards.
“I just came to see Ludacris,” Bush joked, according to The Daily Beast. “I appreciate that there’s a successful guy who’s giving back.” The rapper’s foundation has donated over $1.5 million to youth programs in Atlanta, Georgia, and invested thousands of hours in community service in youth programs.
“Since 2001, The Ludacris Foundation has been helping youth help themselves and has invested more than 10,000 hours in devoted service to youth across the nation,” the foundation says. Even the famously anti-hip-hop and one-time Ludacris hater Bill O’Reilly was compelled to donate money to The Ludacris Foundation.
Photos: Jeb Bush Twitter
Ludacris honored at Georgia Capital, meets Jeb Bush
