Motivational Edge is a non-profit organization with the goal of encouraging youth in South Florida to achieve high academic standards, leveraging “culturally relevant arts” as a motivational platform. A campaign on Indiegogo is seeking $200,000 for the non-profit. The goal? To fund a new chapter of ME in Phoenix, Arizona.
The campaign page says that the money will serve as many as 400 kids in the Phoenix area in the first 12 months. This is part of a larger effort to begin rolling out this program across the United States. After that time period, the program is said to become self-sustaining.
Our free tutoring services are available to any qualifying child in our community who needs support in order to succeed academically. Through no fault of their own though, many of these children are facing realities in which scholastic achievement is not the priority. We provide culturally relevant arts instruction to these children free of charge. In exchange, we require that our young musicians and artists maintain their grades. Any student running below a “C” average in any of their core courses is required to receive tutoring in order to participate in the music and arts program(s).
The campaign has received huge support from rapper Dwayne Carter Jr., also known as Lil Wayne. Lil Wayne passed Elvis Presley in 2012 for the most songs by a male artists on the Billboard Hot 100 charts , a staggering 109 hits.
Lil Wayne grew up in a generally impoverished area of New Orleans called Hollygrove. His past has driven his desire to give back to his community and to communities around the country in order to encourage kids to follow their dreams in the face of hardship, specifically citing music education as a catalyst for success. He dropped out of high school at age 14 to pursue a career in music.
The rapper has contributed his image to the pitch video, which in and of itself is likely to help the campaign garner support. He has also provided a quote for the campaign page and pledged $30,000 to the campaign to get it rolling. The campaign is a verified non-profit campaign on Indiegogo, so donations are tax-deductible. It is also flexibly funded, so no matter what Motivational Edge will be receiving some working capital.
I stand behind the mission of The Motivational Edge not just because I support these kids, but because I was one.
I grew up in New Orleans in a neighborhood called Hollygrove. I didn’t have a lot. What I did have was music and education. I knew that if one didn’t get me out, the other would, but then I finally learned I wouldn’t get out of anything without education. I personally donated to this cause and now we need your help.
Lil Wayne
The campaign has 45 days left and has raised just over $31,000 at the time of writing. It launched on Wednesday, October 16th.
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