Rap mogul Jay-Z lived a “hard knocks life” growing up in the inner-city in Brooklyn’s infamous Marcy Projects. The multimillionaire wants to make a difference by offering scholarships “to help individuals facing socio-economic hardships” receive a college education, through The Shawn Carter Foundation.
Jay-Z created The Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation with his mother, Gloria Carter, in 2003. They’ve awarded more than 750 students $1.3 million in scholarship funds. Teens from his Marcy neighborhood and the New York area have benefited from these scholarships, and aid has been given to students in all 50 states.
“I’m a lucky person. My situation could have tuned out much different, my story is an anomaly,” says the rap impresario.
Jay-Z made history in February when he became the first hip-hop artist to perform at Carnegie Hall in its 120-year history. “These concerts underscore the message of why we’ve been doing this,” he offers, referencing his altruism.
Click continue to see if you qualify.
