Talk about a one-man stimulus package: Grammy-winning rapper Ludacris has given away 20 cars to people who wrote about their struggles to keep their jobs for a lack of wheels of their own.Ludacris said he was taken aback after reading thousands of essays by people struggling or unable to buy cars needed to get to and from work or find jobs. The 31-year-old rapper felt he could step in and move them ahead, partnering with a suburban Atlanta dealership for Sunday's giveaway.
"People are getting laid off, and now are looking for jobs," Ludacris said. "To be efficient, you need some transportation of your own to get there. That's why I wanted to give back to those who need it."
Each of the used vehicles included free gas for 30 days. Winning contestants were responsible for tags, registration, tax and insurance. About 4,000 contestants submitted a 300-word essay to the rapper's foundation, explaining why they deserved a car.
One of the most touching stories Ludacris read was by Mading Duor.
Duor described how he moved to the United States six years ago after his mother, father, and five brothers and sisters were killed in Sudan. The man also wrote that a son was killed by a drunken driver in Atlanta a few years back.
"His story touched my heart," Ludacris said. "He's endured so much in his life and he's still here standing. I'm very proud to have helped him."
Duor, 33, has been able to keep a steady job at a school, but each day he felt stressed about how he was going to get to work. No longer.
"I'm so happy, that I'm nervous," said Duor, who won a Nissan Maxima. "When I look at my new car, I say to myself, 'Is this really happening?'"
Crystal Beauford, a single mother who used to ride the bus to two jobs and school, now has a Saturn Ion. The 26-year-old college student doesn't know how to drive the stick-shift vehicle, but said she'll learn.
"This is going to help me out so much," Beauford said. "It's a blessing."
Ludacris won Grammys for Best Rap Album for "Release Therapy" and Best Rap Song for "Money Maker."

It will be recalled that since 2001,the Ludacris foundation has donated around $500,000.00 to support grassroots organisations as well as over 3,500 hours in devoted service to young people across America

http://new.music.yahoo.com/ludacris/news/rapper-ludacris-gives-away-cars-to-contest-winners--61993597


Fellow nairalanders do you know of any of our so-called music or nollywood "celebrities" who have done or is doing something like that to give back to the society.Personally I haven't seen any,all I hear is so-called "stars" who invade churches,fight church officials,distrupt service :ojust to recover their vehicle being used by their own lovers

So let's hear your views

Haaaaaaaa pray make god no slap your mouth o. I heared of Tuface and Dbanj giving out food stuffs,clothes and money to some motherless baby`s home but i never heared of giving out cars You can`t compare them with the foreign artists abi how much you dey buy their CDs? comparing to how much you dey the original foriegn CD`s.

rasputinn:

Talk about a one-man stimulus package: Grammy-winning rapper Ludacris has given away 20 cars to people who wrote about their struggles to keep their jobs for a lack of wheels of their own.Ludacris said he was taken aback after reading thousands of essays by people struggling or unable to buy cars needed to get to and from work or find jobs. The 31-year-old rapper felt he could step in and move them ahead, partnering with a suburban Atlanta dealership for Sunday's giveaway.
"People are getting laid off, and now are looking for jobs," Ludacris said. "To be efficient, you need some transportation of your own to get there. That's why I wanted to give back to those who need it."
Each of the used vehicles included free gas for 30 days. Winning contestants were responsible for tags, registration, tax and insurance. About 4,000 contestants submitted a 300-word essay to the rapper's foundation, explaining why they deserved a car.
One of the most touching stories Ludacris read was by Mading Duor.
Duor described how he moved to the United States six years ago after his mother, father, and five brothers and sisters were killed in Sudan. The man also wrote that a son was killed by a drunken driver in Atlanta a few years back.
"His story touched my heart," Ludacris said. "He's endured so much in his life and he's still here standing. I'm very proud to have helped him."
Duor, 33, has been able to keep a steady job at a school, but each day he felt stressed about how he was going to get to work. No longer.
"I'm so happy, that I'm nervous," said Duor, who won a Nissan Maxima. "When I look at my new car, I say to myself, 'Is this really happening?'"
Crystal Beauford, a single mother who used to ride the bus to two jobs and school, now has a Saturn Ion. The 26-year-old college student doesn't know how to drive the stick-shift vehicle, but said she'll learn.
"This is going to help me out so much," Beauford said. "It's a blessing."
Ludacris won Grammys for Best Rap Album for "Release Therapy" and Best Rap Song for "Money Maker."

It will be recalled that since 2001,the Ludacris foundation has donated around $500,000.00 to support grassroots organisations as well as over 3,500 hours in devoted service to young people across America

http://new.music.yahoo.com/ludacris/news/rapper-ludacris-gives-away-cars-to-contest-winners--61993597


Fellow nairalanders do you know of any of our so-called music or nollywood "celebrities" who have done or is doing something like that to give back to the society.Personally I haven't seen any,all I hear is so-called "stars" who invade churches,fight church officials,distrupt service   :ojust to recover their vehicle being used by their own lovers  

So let's hear your views

Dude,not all fingers are equal. He is Ludacris not Timaya. He is rich enough to do it,that's y he did it. Most of these 9ja artistes,am sure,are being looked up to by their family members for assistance. That alone is enough. That they are popular dont mean they should blow their own trumpets. U cant be so quick to judge cos some of them might have done something as good as what Ludacris did,anonymously.

@ poster, ffs, if you dont know something, ask? so called celebrities?! FYI, they do give!!!

slimshay:

@ poster, ffs, if you dont know something, ask? so called celebrities?! FYI, they do give!!!

Most of 'em are really so-called as there can not be two sets of definitions for the word celebrity

nana:

He is Ludacris not Timaya.

I agree as I never heard Luda went to a church to crea8 a scene just so he could recover his lover's car

nana:

Most of these 9ja artistes,am sure,are being looked up to by their family members for assistance. That alone is enough. That they are popular dont mean they should blow their own trumpets.

I have to say you got a point there,bearing in mind the kind of economic climate we live in,but climate or no climate,most artistes,even Nigerian artistes I know,wont mind allowing their lover/ex to keep a car she was using while the going was good

nana:

. U cant be so quick to judge cos some of them might have done something as good as what Ludacris did,anonymously.

Hey,sist march am there,none of them done do am

unix4real1:

Haaaaaaaa pray make god no slap your mouth o.

Shoulda told ya soona,no god can slap me mouth,not even your god
BTW,I only recognise one God and He won't slap me,I'm too precious to Him

unix4real1:

I heared of Tuface and Dbanj giving out food stuffs,clothes and money to some motherless baby`s home but i never heared of giving out cars

Oh I see,thanks for the info, I no know before,good of them

unix4real1:

You can`t compare them with the foreign artists abi how much you dey buy their CDs? comparing to how much you dey the original foriegn CD`s.

No be lie my broda, I agree