The Kanye West Foundation, founded by the late educator Dr. Donda West to stem America’s high school dropout rate, collaborated with S.H.O.W. (Students Helping Our World) to put on a benefit concert at The Chicago Theatre. S.H.O.W. is the brainchild of Highland Park High School sophomore, David Abrams who says he conceived the idea while riding in the car with his mom. He heard a story on NPR about a student who was failing in school. In an attempt to encourage her son to stay in school, the anonymous mother offered him two tickets to see Lil Wayne in concert. It was an epiphany for Abrams who decided that if kids attend school and make good grades that they would be rewarded with a free concert. Thus S.H.O.W. contacted The Kanye West Foundation to ask the international superstar to participate in their second annual event.
David Abrams, founder of S.H.O.W., Kanye West, and Joseph Collins, CEO of the Kanye West Foundation
West, who waived his performance fees for the concert and ancillary events stated in a press release, “I have always had the desire to help people and make the world a better place. I believe that youth are the music for creating a world filled with harmony. To create such a world, however, we must all do our part.”
West who was overwhelmed with emotion shared with rolling out that in addition to enjoying the show, he wants the kids to walk away with the message that it’s important to “Stay in school and take every opportunity that you have to make your life as successful as possible.”
Approximately 3,000 inner city students and Chicago area students will have the once in a lifetime opportunity to spend the day with West to get a behind the scenes look at how he prepares for a concert. –soul goddess
