The explosion of screams that met Ne-Yo when he entered the gymnasium — which did not subside until long after he had reached the podium — was the clearest indicator of the children’s overwhelming appreciation for his appearance. Yes, they love Ne-Yo and his music, but they were eternally grateful that he would devote his time and resources to shower them with love and gifts during Christmas week. And for Ne-Yo, the tour has a special, personal meaning.
“I’m doing the right thing because it’s the right thing to do. I’ve been trying to bring Christmas to the ‘forgotten children,’ the foster children. I am an alumni of the Boys & Girls Club in Las Vegas. And if not for them, I probably would not be who I am today,” he said. “[They] helped build confidence and they helped build self-esteem in me. So this makes perfect sense.”
Ne-Yo’s foundation partnered with The Boys & Girls Club of America and Toys for Tots to provide a special holiday for children in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York and Atlanta on consecutive days. Vanessa and Angela Simmons, the daughters of Rev. Run of the legendary hip hop group Run-DMC, traveled with Ne-Yo on the exhilarating national tour. They are donating part of the proceeds from their Pastry shoe line (www.lovepastry.com) to The Compound Foundation. Marine Toys for Tots, Run Athletics, Frito-Lay, AirTran, Ubisoft and Tropicana have all joined up with the prolific singer, songwriter, producer and actor on the third Annual Giving Tour.
Vanessa Simmons said the best part of the Annual Giving Tour was the children — talking to them, hanging out with them and watching them pick out their gifts.
“I think that it was more than important; I think it was a necessity for Pastry to be involved,” says Vanessa Simmons.
Angela Simmons, who characterized the four-day, four-city tour across the country as wonderfully exciting and exhilarating, found it hard to express the gratitude she felt for Ne-Yo enabling the sisters to take party.
“I can’t even put into words how worth it I think it was for us to do it. …“It is sooo worth it,” she said.
–terry shropshire
