LOS ANGELES, CA. (Interscope Records) - Sponsored by The G-Unity Foundation, Inc.,
G-Unit Records recording artist
Tony Yayo has donated $17,000 to the Ronald Edmonds Learning School (via the Fund for Public Schools), Middle School 113, in Brooklyn, NY, which has given 64 boys and girls the opportunity to participate in the Center's Annual Young Men's College Tour and Young Women's College Tour.
In addition to the grant, Yayo will surprise the students upon their return from their five-day trip as he is looking forward to hearing their stories about the week.
According to Principal Khalek Kirkland, over the past six years the school has taken over one hundred fifty boys and girls, ages 11-15, to tour and visit a number of historically black colleges and universities along the east coast. Evidence has shown that these tours have made a dramatic, positive impact on the current academic performance, emotional maturity, and educational aspirations of participating students. The tours include visits to Morgan State University, Howard University, Howard Law School, Hampton University, Virginia State University, Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College, Fisk University, Tennessee State University and Meharry Medical School.
Yayo stated, "I wish back then I had people to show me what college was like because I know I would have wanted to go. Looking back on it I wish I had gone to college."
"Our 7th year of the Young Men's College Tour has clearly been one of the best. Our students have been able to visit college campuses, speak one on one with both students and professors as well as sit in on college classes at some of the top Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the country. It is our hope that in just a few short years these same students will be able to conduct tours for future students at these same institutions," said Principal Khalek Kirkland.
The G-Unity Foundation, Inc. is a public foundation that provides grants to nonprofit organizations that focus on improving the quality of life for low-income and underserved communities. Recent grants totaling over $500,000 in 2005 and 2006 include The Boys Choir Academy of Harlem, Tomorrow's Aeronautical Museum, Homes for the Homeless, Teach for America - Houston, Queensborough Community College, Nashville Alliance for Public Education, Jam Master Jay Foundation for Music, the Ronald Edmonds Learning Center in Brooklyn, NY, and the Compton Unified School District.
