R. Kelly’s Appeal Of Federal Sex Crimes Convictions Rejected By Supreme Court
The Supreme Court did not note any dissents, nor did it list any reasons for the denial.
The Supreme Court has rejected R. Kelly’s appeal of his federal sex crimes conviction. He will remain in jail for his sex trafficking and child pornography charges.
The disgraced singer’s appeal was among several others that the Supreme Court decided not to approve, per CNN. In his appeal, he claimed he was wrongfully retroactively prosecuted for sex crimes with minors. Kelly argued that his conviction was due to a federal law passed in 2003 granting an indefinite statute of limitations for the crime.
His lawyers detailed that a shorter statute should have been implemented on the accusations against Kelly, given the offenses dated back to the 1990s. Kelly, whose real name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, has been in prison after being found guilty in 2022 on three charges for both images of child sexual abuse and enticing minors for sex.
After receiving a 30-year sentence for sex trafficking in 2021, he was additionally sentenced to 20 years for child pornography in 2023. Most of his dual sentence will be served concurrently, leaving him with only one extra year of prison time.
The Supreme Court did not note any dissents, nor did it list any reasons for the denial. However, it is not customary for the judicial entity to do the latter. Prior to this decision, lower courts also refused to hear Kelly’s claims.
The evidence against Kelly included a video of him engaging in sex acts with a visibly young girl. The woman, publicly identified as “Jane,” testified that she was his 14-year-old godchild at the time of the sexual abuse.
According to PBS, Kelly is also in the midst of appealing his first sentence of 30 years for his federal racketeering and sex trafficking convictions held in New York.
With his current appeal rejected, Kelly should expect to remain in prison until his 80s.
Doja Cat Stars In Remix Of Brisk Iced Tea’s Classic Claymation Ads
Doja Cat is getting animated for a modern take of Brisk Iced Tea's claymation ad.
Doja Cat is the newest animated face for Brisk Iced Tea. The artist took part in the reimagined classic claymation advertisement for Brisk Iced Tea.
The “Woman” singer also lends her voice to the 20-second clip. It features the animated musician seemingly saving her claymation lover after a bear attacks him for his can of Brisk. In a callback to previous ads, Doja Cat uses the aid of some blue-eyed woodland creatures to instead reclaim the iced tea for herself.
“That’s brisk, baby,” says the 28-year-old in the clip.
Brisk noted Doja Cat’s boldness as a big factor in making her the face of this new iteration.
“This is our biggest launch in over a decade, so we wanted to partner with someone as bold as we are and to drive claymation forward in a fresh new way for a whole new generation,” said Julie Raheja-Perera, general manager and vice president for the Pepsi Lipton Partnership in North America, in a statement obtained by Marketing Dive.
The jointly owned brand by Pepsi and Unilever used to deliver these iconic ads throughout the early 2000s, featuring the likeness of stars such as Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra. While they initially phased out the claymation, it made its resurgence during the Super Bowl in 2011. The commercial also featured fellow rapper Eminem.
However, this reimagined version hopes to bring the fun style to fit a Gen-Z-focused audience.
“This style dominated culture and remains one of our most distinctive and memorable campaigns to date,” explained Raheja-Perera. “We are reigniting the nostalgia for long-time fans while also engaging a whole new generation. With Gen Z’s growing affinity for nostalgia, it really felt like the perfect time to look at this reboot.”
Doja Cat’s entrance into the Brisk’s claymation family is also historic. She now reigns as the first woman artist to star in a Brisk commercial in claymation form. As for the ad’s story, it also plays into the Gen-Z mindset.
“There’s nostalgia built right into the execution with the claymation, which continues the Brisk legacy, but there’s also a new tension built into our campaign with ‘That’s Cold,’” said Isaac Silverglate, executive creative director at VaynerMedia, to the news outlet. “That tone feels right in line with what Brisk has done in the past, but layers in a tension made to resonate with the audience.”
Raheja-Perera added, “We’re giving Gen Z the permission they crave to be a little bit selfish… It’s really important to be in tune with how Gen Z thinks about their lives and their world.”
The ad will run until Dec. 15 across screens and various social media platforms.
According to NBC 2, Uber has provided a promotional code for those in Florida seeking to escape the projected life-threatening storm surges. To apply it, users in the path of the storm must tap account, located at the bottom right of the screen, and select their wallet. When prompted, enter the promotional code “MILTONRELIEF” into the field.
8PM EDT: This is nothing short of astronomical. I am at a loss for words to meteorologically describe you the storms small eye and intensity. 897mb pressure with 180 MPH max sustained winds and gusts 200+ MPH. This is now the 4th strongest hurricane ever recorded by pressure on… pic.twitter.com/QFdqFYFI7o
We flew over Hurricane Milton about 90 minutes ago. Here is the view out the Dragon Endeavour window. Expect lots of images from this window as this is where I’m sleeping while we wait to undock and return to Earth.
The immediate impact is expected to be felt by the Tampa area, but the impact radius is expected to cover much of Florida. On Oct.7, the storm generated heightened concerns when it rapidly intensified from a Category 2 hurricane to a Category 5 hurricane, with winds peaking at 180 miles per hour.
According to the National Hurricane Center, “Maximum sustained winds are near 150 mph (240 km/h) with higher gusts. Milton is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. While fluctuations in intensity are expected, Milton is forecast to remain an extremely dangerous hurricane through landfall in Florida.”
The NHC continued, “The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline.”
They cautioned that water could reach up to 15 feet between Anclote River and Englewood, 15 feet in Tampa Bay, 10 feet between Englewood and Bonita Beach, 10 feet in Charlotte Harbor, 10 feet between Yankeetown and Anclote River, seven feet between Bonita Beach and Chokoloskee, five feet between Suwanee River and Yankeetown, five feet between Chokoloskee and Flamingo, and five feet between Port Canaveral and Altamaha Sound, Georgia; if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide. All locations are in Florida unless otherwise indicated.
Despite these very real concerns, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis sparked outrage when an aide admitted to NBC News that Gov. DeSantis didn’t take a phone call from Vice President Kamala Harris about hurricane relief because the calls “seemed political” in nature.
In response to the report, Harris told reporters that inserting political concerns when people need help made no sense.
“You know, moments of crisis, if nothing else, should really be the moment that anyone who calls themselves a leader says they’re gonna put politics aside and put the people first,” Vice President Harris said.
Video: Man Arrested After Kicking In Door And Entering Bronx Apartment
Brian Watts was arrested and charged with burglary, criminal mischief, and possession of a controlled substance.
A Bronx man wanted to get inside an apartment in the Parkchester section, so he banged on the door. When he did not get a response, he kicked the door several times until he broke a hole through it. When he realized what he had done, he crawled right through it to gain entry into the dwelling. And it was all caught on video!
According to News 12 The Bronx, the man, identified by police officers as 44-year-old Brian Watts, was arrested and charged with burglary, criminal mischief, and possession of a controlled substance. The man had no ties and did not even know the apartment’s occupant. The incident occurred earlier this summer, in August, as it caught the person who lives there, Cristen, off guard as she feared for her life when it took place.
The 27-year-old wasn’t injured during the break-in, but no reason was given as to why Watts broke into the apartment. She stated that she locked herself in the bathroom after he forcefully entered the Bronx home. She lives there by herself.
Cristen stated that while she was in the bathroom, he tried to enter but left her alone, although she could hear him pacing around the apartment. She telephoned the police as he was breaking the door down. He ended up resting on her couch, and when police officers arrived, they detained him.
“I really thought in that bathroom, this is my last day on earth. I’m not going to survive this,” she said.
The housing development did replace the door with a newer one, but Cristen is still troubled by the incident. She states that when she can, she will move out of the apartment and find another place to live.
Big Tech Employee Shares 5 Tips For Quiet Vacationing After 10 Weeks Away While On The Job
A former tech employee shares tips on how to quietly vacation while on the clock.
Meet Tobi Oluwole, a former big tech employee who spent ten weeks vacationing from 2022 to 2023 but only officially reported three weeks of vacation time.
Now a full-time entrepreneur and LinkedIn creator, Oluwole is reminiscing on the weeks of traveling he used to do while still on the clock working for a major tech company. In 2022, he traveled every six weeks and only clocked two weeks of vacation. In 2023, Oluwole quietly vacationed for three weeks but only reported one week of vacation time.
“Over the course of 15 months, I spent a total of ten weeks quiet vacationing from my fully remote job,” he told Business Insider.
“I think quiet vacationing may be good for productivity; I was genuinely so happy while traveling the world, and it translated into my productivity at work.”
This growing trend among remote workers, known as quiet vacationing, involves employees taking time off without informing their boss—an alternative to the quiet quitting movement.
How Oluwole managed to vacation without his job knowing, as a remote worker, there were specific processes he had to take and consider before taking flight. He outlines these considerations in five tips he shares for other remote workers who want to add more quiet vacations into their work week.
Learn how to build systems that allow you to do your job more effectively but in less time.
“As long as you are performing, you will have fewer eyes on you,” Oluwole says. “I figured out that since we worked remotely, all I had to do was ensure that my team always performed well, and I could be anywhere in the world.”
Oluwole developed a system to automate messages and tasks and would schedule dedicated time in his calendar to prevent random meetings from being booked. He had teammates send notes, or he would read the AI-generated meeting summaries and use a virtual background for calls. As a manager, he still had a team to look over, which he successfully did by implementing effective systems, such as reducing all one-on-one meetings from an hour to just 15 to 30 minutes each week. He also established a daily revenue tracker to keep his team informed about the targets they needed to reach to meet their monthly and quarterly quotas.
Learn how to get work done through people.
“Whenever work needed to be done on the days I was quiet vacationing, I’d delegate as many tasks as I could to my team,” Oluwole shared.
“I chose a team captain who stood in for me to run team meetings when I was out being a tourist and paired people up according to their strengths and weaknesses. This is why the team almost never missed our quota.”
His team also enjoyed the task delegation and had “good things” to say about Oluwole’s management style. He credits this to the motivation and inspiration he provided his team through support and financial reassurance.
“When we had big goals, or if our team was behind, I’d get on calls to close deals with them. I was very intentional about making sure they knew I’d be in the fire with them when I needed to be, which built lots of trust,” he explained.
Quality time he also helped. Oluwole spent time outside work with his team and even planned annual trips with them. He also avoided micromanaging, which motivated them to continue working hard even when he wasn’t around.
Say “no” more often to projects that don’t align with your career goals.
“This really helped me avoid playing politics or the career ladder game,” Oluwole said. “If an opportunity didn’t serve my long-term goals or was too high-profile, I’d turn it down.”
“I turned down projects, stating I didn’t have enough capacity, and also refused to attend non-essential meetings,” he added.
While working at a major tech company, Oluwole actively side-hustled on LinkedIn, building a following of over 100,000. He promoted a career boot camp on the platform and secured multiple brand partnerships, earning between $5,000 and $8,000 monthly in addition to his day job.
“My company had a 90-day work-from-anywhere policy, but it required us to submit each location we were going to work from, and I chose not to follow it,” he said.
“Having my own side hustle allowed me to not feel the pressure to follow all the rules. It also gave me disposable income to use for traveling and do all of this without fear.”
Try to find a boss who values your productivity more than your physical presence, although that can be out of your control.
“I did sometimes get questioned by my boss and sometimes even higher-ups about my schedule and availability, but it happened rarely and wasn’t a big issue,” Oluwole said.
Due to his strong performance and his team’s ability to meet their quotas, Oluwole received positive performance reviews, resulting in a 13% raise at the tech company. After enjoying ten weeks of quiet vacationing throughout the year, he left the company, relocated to Paris, France, with his wife, and transitioned to working for himself full-time.
Jason Lee Continues His Journey Into Politics By Hosting A Community Event With Floyd Mayweather
Jason and Floyd announced a plan to launch an investment group with the goal of revitalizing an indoor arena in the Stockton, California, area.
Media personality and Stockton, California, City Council District 6 candidate Jason Lee stressed that his campaign is all about community advocacy after hosting a community event featuring city leader and lightweight boxing champion Floyd Mayweather, according to a press release shared with BLACK ENTERPRISE.
The standing room only event was hosted on Oct. 5 at the legendary Bob Hope Theater. In support of Lee’s political efforts, he was joined by fellow hopefuls, including the city’s mayoral candidate Christina Fugazi and City Council District 4 candidate Mario Enriquez. Enriquez touched on his experiences of being born and raised in Stockton, highlighting his inspiration to go into the government sector, focusing on policies that will give back to his community.
Lee sat with writer and podcast host Blue Telusma for a fireside chat where he announced a plan to launch an investment group with the goal of revitalizing Adventist Health Arena, an indoor arena in the Stockton area, known as the home venue for the NBA G League team, the Stockton Kings.
The unnamed investment group is in partnership with Mayweather. The boxing champion seemingly has a keen eye for investment property, as he claims his goal outside of the ring is to create generational wealth. According to AOL.com, Mayweather said his inspiration to invest came from seeing other athletes going broke. “I don’t want to end up like that,” he said.
“Actually, what I own right now is nine skyscrapers. And I’m building my tenth skyscraper right now.”
In addition to the arena, he and Lee will be building a skating rink for community members to enjoy.
He isn’t stopping there. The Hollywood Unlocked founder also revealed he is working with comedian Tiffany Haddish to open doors to a local grocery store located in South Stockton. Moves like that were highlighted by Fugazi. When she made remarks at the event, the politician spoke about her vision for the future Stockton, which includes an improvement on the community and listening to what the residents want and need.
With an emphasis on keeping the community localized, Fugazi said if she is elected as mayor, her goal is to create a home-based police force. She also wants to host town hall meetings to get residents to voice their concerns collectively.
While listening to the legendary DJ Spinderella of hip-hop group Salt-N-Pepa, Lee spoke candidly about his upbringing in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and how the values instilled in him, along with discipline, led him to building his own brand.
Otis Redding Earns Posthumous Star On The Hollywood Walk of Fame
Jimmy Jam and Killer Mike were present to honor Otis Redding at his Hollywood Walk of Fame induction ceremony.
The legacy of late soul singer Otis Redding continues to shine with the recent addition of his star on the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Grammy-winning music producer Jimmy Jam was the master of ceremonies at Friday’s star unveiling, praising Redding for his “legendary” contributions during his brief but impactful six-year music career.
“And I say legendary with all capital letters,” Jam said, as captured by NBC News. “His groundbreaking moves as an artist and philanthropist continue to inspire to this day.”
Rapper Killer Mike, real name Michael Render, took the mic to praise Redding’s wife, Zelma Redding, who was in attendance along with her daughter, Karla Redding-Andrews.
“You don’t get Martin without Coretta, you don’t get Malcolm without Betty, and you don’t get Otis without Zelma,” Killer Mike said.
Redding-Andrews wished her mother an early happy birthday before turning 82 on Monday. “I know Dad is saying, ‘I did this for you, Zelma,’” she said.
“We have so many honors at home… But this means the world that here we are, traveling all the way to the West Coast for this honor that will live on forever as the legacy of Otis Redding does,” Redding-Andrews added.
Otis Redding, often referred to as the voice of soul music, tragically died in a 1967 plane crash at the age of 26. His iconic song “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay” was released a few weeks later and became his first and only No. 1 hit.
The singer-songwriter was working as a personal driver for Johnny Jenkins and the Pinetoppers when he was discovered after delivering a soulful, smoldering performance of “These Arms of Mine” during Jenkins’ audition for the emerging Stax Records label. Redding’s performance of the original song is credited with forever changing the course of pop music.
In just under six years of recording, Redding achieved five Top 5 albums and 17 Top 20 singles on the R&B charts before his death. During a period when airwaves and audiences were still deeply segregated, he rose to become one of the country’s highest-grossing performers, leaving an indelible mark on Southern Soul with his powerful, raw intensity.
“Always think different from the next person,” he once said. “Don’t ever do a song as you heard somebody else do it.”
As a songwriter, Redding wrote timeless classics like “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” and “Respect,” famously reimagined by Aretha Franklin and named Rolling Stone‘s greatest song in 2021.
In 1989, Redding was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 1999, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammy Awards. In 2011, Kanye West and Jay-Z released “Otis,” sampling Redding’s “Try a Little Tenderness.” The duo won the Grammy for Best Rap Performance for the track in 2012.
“I am not a blues singer or an R&B singer,” Redding once said. “I’m a soul singer. We go into the studio without anything prepared, just record what comes out. That’s soul — the way you feel.”
Just last week, it was announced that Star Wars actor John Boyega will portray Otis Redding, alongside Till breakout star Danielle Deadwyler, in a new film titled Otis and Zelma. The film will explore the soul singer’s decade-long relationship with his wife, Zelma Redding.
Mom of 8-Year-Old Who Drove Herself To Target Shares How ‘Stressful’ The Situation Was, ‘I Could Not Sleep’
The mother of the 8-year-old who drove herself to Target recalls how "stressful" the situation was.
Tangie Wilson is opening up about the “stressful” day she had when her 8-year-old daughter took the family car for a ride to Target last month.
Wilson’s elementary school-aged daughter, Zoe, became an internet sensation in Bedford, Ohio, after rebelliously driving the family’s SUV—along with their dog, Bear—to Target on Sept. 15. According to Wilson, Zoe was upset after an argument with her older sister the night before and decided that a joyride might help ease her frustrations.
“She never has done any of this before,” Wilson told The New York Times on Sunday, “so it still was not registering that she left with the dog.”
The mother of three daughters—ages 15, 11, and 8-year-old Zoe—explained that she was asleep when Zoe came into her room to ask for the iPad. Wilson went back to sleep, believing her daughter had settled down in her room or on the couch with the device. Unbeknownst to her, Zoe had slipped out of the house around 7 a.m., taking her mother’s car keys, wallet, and ID. The third grader then embarked on an erratic drive to the local Target, bringing the family dog along for the ride.
@cbsnews An 8-year-old girl was caught on camera swerving on a road in Ohio, as a driver behind her was on the phone with police and captured her driving toward a Target, where she stopped to shop. Local authorities said she was located and brought home safely. #bedford#ohio#target♬ original sound – cbsnews
Other drivers noticed the white SUV swerving through lanes. One person called the police, believing the car’s driver was under the influence.
“I tried to signal her to slow down or stop if possible, and she just kept going,” Justin Kimery, a witness to the event, said. “It looked like she was distracted inside the vehicle.”
Thirty minutes after Zoe left, her older daughter came into the room to ask where her younger sister and their dog were.
“And I’m like, ‘She just asked for her iPad, what do you mean she’s not here?’”
After contacting the police, a neighbor discovered that Zoe had been caught on their Ring camera getting into the family’s SUV and backing out of the driveway. What started as a brief missing person case ended when police found Zoe safe at Target nearly two hours later. The Bedford Police Department seemed to take a lighthearted approach to the incident, sharing a message on their Facebook page.
“She walked out of the store so normal, like nothing happened,” Wilson said of her daughter’s response to being found. “Her response was like, ‘I only hit a mailbox and it was green.'”
Wilson was more relieved to have her daughter home safe and sound than focused on disciplining the bold third grader. However, Zoe still faces a minor punishment.
“I spoke to her and reassured her that I loved her, how I wouldn’t want anything to happen to her, and how dangerous and big the situation was,” Wilson said. “But when we did go places moving forward if she wanted a slushy from the store, I would tell her no as a consequence.”
While Wilson is relieved that her daughter wasn’t harmed during the joy ride, it was still a “stressful” situation for any parent.
“Actually, to be honest, I still haven’t had time to process it mentally,” she said. “And I don’t think I had been home for 10 minutes before it came across my phone that it made the news. Then it was all over social media, and my phone was blowing up from everybody.”
“So for me it was very stressful, very exhausting — mentally, physically, emotionally,” she added.
“I could not sleep because it all started with her leaving the house when I was asleep. It was like someone snatched the rug from under my feet. And it was just all these questions — everybody wanted to know who this little girl was and how did she do it.”
Now that Zoe has learned from the experience, Wilson uses it to motivate her daughter whenever she feels she can’t accomplish something.
“Well, the week after that, she was upset about going to school. She was like, “I’m worried because we’re doing multiplication, and multiplication is hard.” And I’m like, “Zoe, did you know how to drive a car before you drove the car the other day?” And she was like, “No.” And I was like, “OK, so just like that with multiplication, you don’t know how to do it, but you’re going to learn.”
“So that has encouraged her a lot as far as her schoolwork,” Wilson said.
U.S. Hospitals Face Critical IV Fluid Shortages After Hurricane Helene Disrupts Production
Experts warn that supply chain vulnerabilities must be addressed in prone regions
Hospitals across the United States are facing critical IV fluid shortages after Hurricane Helene’s severe flooding forced the closure of critical medical fluid manufacturing facilities. The disruption has left healthcare systems scrambling to secure enough supplies to meet patient needs.
Baxter International, the leading supplier of IV fluids to U.S. hospitals, has been hit hardest. Its North Cove facility in Marion, North Carolina, which supplies roughly 60% of the nation’s IV fluid bags, remains shut down due to flood damage. The organization is collaborating with federal agencies to support recovery efforts and mitigate supply disruptions. IV fluids are essential to hospital operations. They treat dehydration and play a crucial role in surgeries where patients cannot eat or drink for extended periods.
The company said in a statement, “Baxter’s North Cove site was affected by flooding due to the storm and is currently closed for production. The company is working around the clock in close coordination with local, state, and federal officials to assess the extent of the damage and implement a plan to bring the plant back online as quickly as possible to help mitigate supply disruption to patients.”
José (Joe) E. Almeida, chair, president, and CEO of Baxter, stressed the urgency of resuming production.
“Remediation efforts are already underway, and we will spare no resource—human or financial—to resume production and help ensure patients and providers have the products they need,” Almeida stated.
The shortage is already straining hospitals, with major healthcare systems like Mass General Brigham feeling the pinch. Dr. Paul Biddinger, the hospital network’s chief preparedness and continuity officer, said they expect only about 40% of their usual supply from Baxter. He called it “one of the biggest shortages” they’ve ever faced.
“Having experienced similar challenges in the wake of Hurricane Maria in 2017, we continue to be mindful of how we manage the supply of these medications to ensure minimal impact on our patients,” Biddinger said. “Hospital operations continue as normal, and patient care remains unaffected, but we are closely monitoring the situation.”
Other IV fluid manufacturers are stepping in to fill the gap. B. Braun, which operates manufacturing sites in Irvine, California, and Daytona Beach, Florida, confirmed that Hurricane Helene did not affect its facilities. The company has ramped up production and placed its products on “protective allocation,” encouraging hospitals to conserve supplies and explore alternative hydration methods. “We are taking immediate steps to increase production at our pharmaceutical manufacturing sites, focusing on critical IV fluids,” a spokesperson said.
ICU Medical, another key player in the IV fluid market, also announced it is increasing production to help meet the sudden demand. “We are working to increase production to help meet market needs while continuing to support our existing customers,” the company said.
The current shortage is reminiscent of the 2017 crisis, when Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, a major manufacturing hub for medical supplies, leading to widespread IV fluid shortages.
Elective surgeries may be canceled if the IV fluid shortage escalates.
BLACK ENTERPRISE spoke with a surgery coordinator, who opted to remain anonymous, to see if Helene had affected elective surgeries like cosmetic procedures. The New Life Plastic surgery coordinator explained that while their facility hasn’t canceled any upcoming procedures, Miami’s plastic surgery industry hasn’t been impacted–at the moment.
“We haven’t canceled any procedures. We will keep our patients informed if anything changes. Miami hasn’t been directly affected, but we are vigilant.”
What Patients Can Expect
Most adjustments will happen behind the scenes, so patients may not notice the IV fluid shortage unless the situation worsens. The goal is for the FDA and healthcare providers to prevent the issue from impacting patient care, but in some cases, treatment might change.
For example, patients who visit the emergency room with symptoms like nausea or vomiting are often given IV fluids for hydration. With a limited supply, hospitals may conserve IV bags for critical patients, such as those in intensive care or undergoing surgery. Instead, less critical patients might be given anti-nausea medication and encouraged to hydrate with drinks like Gatorade or Pedialyte, according to veteran critical care and Advanced Practice Nurse Brenda Riley.
The approach helps ensure that the most vulnerable patients still receive the needed fluids while minimizing the overall demand for IV supplies.
As hospitals manage this latest crisis, many are calling for long-term solutions to avoid such disruptions in the future. Experts warn that supply chain vulnerabilities must be addressed in regions prone to natural disasters to safeguard the healthcare system from future shortages.
Jeezy Hosts Star-Studded 4th Annual Sno Ball Gala To Empower Underserved Youth
As the 2024 Sno Ball Gala comes to a close, Jeezy's role as a philanthropist is solidified.
Grammy-nominated, multiplatinum artist and New York Times best-selling author Jay “Jeezy” Jenkins hosted the 4th Annual Sno Ball Gala, a night of elegance, entertainment, and philanthropy. This exclusive, invite-only event brought together celebrities and influential leaders to support Jeezy’s Street Dreamz Foundation, a nonprofit empowering underserved youth.
In a special moment, Jeezy made his first red carpet appearance with his oldest daughter, Amra, marking a touching debut together. The star-studded event attracted notable figures such as Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, comedian Mike Epps, rapper T.I., and DJ Cassidy.
Dickens, a staunch supporter of the South Carolina native’s philanthropic efforts, shared his excitement about the fundraiser with Black Enterprise, saying, “This is all about the ways that we can support our youth. This foundation, Young Jeezy by Jay, is one that allows us to be able to help kids… reach their dreams.”
BE also caught up with fellow Southern rap bro Clifford “T.I.” Harris. Calling Jeezy his “partner,” he said, “I think it’s important for us to show support for one another whenever we have our events. If he feels it’s important, I feel like it’s important for me to show up.”
The gala, held at a private venue, featured luxurious, elevated experiences, including gourmet dining and an exciting live auction. Guests had the opportunity to bid on exclusive, high-end items, with all proceeds supporting Jeezy’s Street Dreamz Foundation’s programs in education, entrepreneurship, and community development for at-risk youth.
Comedian Mike Epps, the evening’s master of ceremonies, had the crowd roaring with laughter, while DJ Cassidy kept the energy alive with an unforgettable soundtrack of crowd-pleasing hits. The event extended into the early hours, filled with dancing, celebration, and impactful fundraising.
The true success of the evening was the significant donations raised, a testament to the community’s commitment to uplifting the next generation of leaders. Reflecting on the event, Jeezy said, “The Sno Ball Gala is about more than just a great night—it’s about creating real change. I’m grateful to everyone who came out, contributed, and helped make this event impactful. Together, we’re giving our youth the tools to succeed and thrive.” This inspiring impact is what makes events like the Sno Ball Gala so important and hopeful for the future.
As the 2024 Sno Ball Gala comes to a close, Jeezy’s role as a philanthropist is solidified. He is not just a rapper but a dedicated individual making lasting, positive changes in his community. His commitment to philanthropy is admirable and worthy of respect, and it’s this dedication that makes the Sno Ball Gala such a significant event.
