Shawn “Jay Z” Carter sets the stage for HISTORIC evenings at the legendary CARNEGIE HALL. He will headline the first ever hip-hop focused series at Carnegie Hall, in the Stern Auditorium, raising millions for United Way of New York City and the Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation. Performances will be on:
February 6, 2012 at 8pm and
February 7, 2012 at 9:30 pm.
“It’s every artist’s dream to play a venue as legendary as Carnegie Hall”, commented Jay Z. “The fact that I can use the arts and my talent to benefit the education of the next generation of artist, entrepreneurs’, and great thinkers makes for a legendary night. I’m proud to be a part of the continuing work of United Way of New York City and the expanding Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation”.
The mission that night is most important. Poverty has the strongest correlation to dropout rates. New York City has the largest income gap in the U.S., and 30% of children in New York City live in poverty. Along with the statistics that show 39% of our New York City students who enter High School will not graduate on time.
The Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation (SCSF) was conceived with his Mother Gloria Carter in 2002 and established as a public charity in 2003. The vision and mission is to help individuals facing social-economic hardships further his or her education at institutions of learning. Shawn and his mother kicked off the Foundations efforts by awarding one student with full college tuition in 2003. To date, the foundation provides up to 120 scholarships to students in 50 different states. Since the SCSF inception, over 750 students have received awards totaling over $1.3 million dollars.
Executive Director, Dania Diaz of the SCSF, states “this a very simple mission. Lets give young people who are really struggling in opportunities to live their dreams, go to college and pursue higher education.” “We are delighted to begin what I believe could be a great partnership with United Way and really expand the educational opportunities for many students along the educational pipeline. We are focused on increasing college access; we are focused on increasing opportunities’ for higher education, whether that’s vocational education, at a trade school, at a community college level or a 4-year college. We are looking at all avenues for success and we have been doing that for some time because we know that one third of the low income population will enter college and about one seventh will actually graduate from college. So we’re really looking at support systems throughout the pipelines to make it easier for young people to succeed and to really supports the President’s national call to “to get that lead back.”
United Way New York City is a wonderful organization that has dedicated more than 20 years of hard passionate work. Working with early childhood centers, public schools, families, students and educators to address barriers to success inside and outside of the classroom. Fighting poverty across five boroughs, they have designed and invested in evidence-based programs that help low-income New Yorkers achieve educational success, income stability and good health.
I can’t think of a better way to support our future. Education is the key to success. Whether you can attend this historic event or not look up these Foundations and make a donation, volunteer at your local public school. Encourage your children to study. Our children’s education is so important to our country’s future. Make a difference starting today!
Private ticket packages will go on sale TODAY, Monday December 12, 2011!!!
For more information on these private sales please visit www.unitedwaynyc.org or www.shawncartersf.com
In addition, a limited number of single tickets will be offered to the public on Monday, January 30th, 2012 at 11:00am. (EST) For more information on limited single tickets, please visit www.carnegiehall.org as of January 30, 2012.
Jigga Man continues to inspire so many of us, with his music, books and his scholarship foundation. A true artist of our generation and I’m sure will continue be in the next.
Until next time I’m Lily Agosto
