PRESS RELEASE
November 6, 2006 Grammy Award Winning Musician Ja Rule,Music Mogul Russell Simmons,
Irv "Gotti" Lorenzo
Announce a Celebrity LIFE Camp Benefit
For At Risk Youth (WASHINGTON, DC)Today, Grammy Award Winning Musician, Ja Rule, Music Mogul, Russell Simmons, Power 105 Radio Personality Ed Lover, TV & Radio Personality Jacque Reid, Irv "Gotti" and Chris Lorenzo announced at a press conference at the Marriott Marquis Times Square a Celebrity LIFE Camp Benefit for at risk youth which will take place on Thursday, November 9, 6:00PM-10:00PM at Club Lotus, 409 West 14th Street, New York, NY. Proceeds will continue to support Love Ignites Freedom thru Education (L.I.F.E) Camps programs.
An estimated, 16 percent of the population in Jamaica, Queens live below the national poverty levels and according to the Board Education a startling 34% of young people in this area between the ages of 18 and 21 are high school drop outs. In a 2004 report 27% of young people under 18 who resided in Jamaica, Queens were arrested for violent felonies. Grammy Award winning musician, entrepreneur and actor Ja Rule a Jamaica, Queens' native could not sit idly by, and along with community leaders developed LIFE Camp, a year round program for at risk youth who are on the fast track to dropping out of school, incarceration, or death.
"I grew up in Jamaica, Queens and it is through the perseverance and dedication of my family and mentors who insisted on never giving up on me that I was able to become an entrepreneur and a musician. Unfortunately, many of my friends lacked any type of support system and are now incarcerated or deceased," said Ja Rule. He continues, "It is critical to me that I continue to build upon the success of Life Camp. Just recently my Life Camp kids completed a documentary in which they wrote, produced, directed and edited a film called '80's Babies'. That in itself is a great accomplishment that I am proud of."
"I am full support of the work Ja Rule is doing with his foundation LIFE Camp. I believe it is important for those of us who made it out against the odds to give back and help young people who look up to us succeed," stated New York Giant Michael Strahan.
"The LIFE Camp Program is a very important community service component in Southeast Queens and addresses the needs of our young people who may be disenfranchised and disconnected from an economic mainstream," said Congressman Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY). "These talented young people are given a new direction and a second chance at developing important life and career skill sets which will improve the quality of life for themselves as well as their families."
"With the support of our programs and the help of Life Camps' Dr. Haveour, our Executive Director, Erica Ford and all of the celebrities, athletes, volunteer instructors and elected officials, we are committed to continue to lay the ground work for the development and success of these young people," stated Ja Rule
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