IBexclusive – Thanksgiving is the time when individuals assemble to form an alliance to provide for those in need during the holiday season. On Monday, November 25th, 2019, Meda Leacock and Danielle Beckom of IAmWondaWoman Foundation, Deon Grant of the Grant Foundation, Davina Perez of Put Down The Guns, Shana Melius of Preserve Our Legacy and Grand Street Settlement was joined by World Champion Boxer Zab ‘Super’ Judah, Artists Bang of Junior Mafia & Tek of Smif & Wessun, Madina Milana of Growing Up Hip Hop, Iyesata Marsh, Kim Brown, Judah Bros. Boxers Priiceless & Centry, community leaders and local businesses to provide free turkeys to the community of Brooklyn at Lafayette Gardens in Bedstuy, Brooklyn.  Additional turkey donations were given to Our Lady of Charity Church, also in Brooklyn, to provide hot dinners on Thanksgiving Day for those in need.

Distinguished notables and local businesses that participated and contributed to our 10th Annual day of giving included Robert ‘Don Pooh’ Cummings, Everything Glam Hair Studio, Pushing Weight, Build A Legacy Real Estate LLC, Courtside Consulting, BTD Construction, Zensayshen, MTA Rocky, Mark Spark Welch, Brian Adams & 79th Precinct.

Hunger is a reality in New York City. According to the New York City Coalition Against Hunger 1.5 million people live in food insecure homes. This time of year marks a time to help make the holiday season a little brighter, our annual Thanksgiving Turkey Drive illustrates how the Brooklyn community can make a difference by working together to help their neighbors most in need.

In the past included: Rashad Jennings, Shaun Rogers, Jay Bromley and Brandon Meriweather of the New York Giants, Calvin Pryor of the New York Jets, Super Bowl Champion Deon Grant and The Grant Foundation, Super Bowl Champion Darrel Reid, NBA players Rafer Alston, Jamal Tinsley and John Wallace, Platinum recording artists Jadakiss, Maino, Jim Jones, and Lil Cease & Bang of Junior M.A.F.I.A, Recording artist Lil Mama, Free of 106 & Park, Buxx, Creator of Money & Violence, Jimmy Cozier, Legendary Ralph McDaniels of ‘Video Music Box’, VH1’s LHHNY Rashidah Ali, Professional Boxer & Trainer Eric Kelly, Def Jam Recording Artist Fetty Luciano, Renown Actor & Brooklyn Native Hassan Johnson, BET’s Hustle In Brooklyn Cast Darnell & Santos, Professional Boxer Justin Biggs, Boxer Bruce Shu Shu Carrington, and many more.

 
IAmWondaWoman:

IAmWondaWoman is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, which was formed to strengthen and reinforce the minds of inner-city adolescent girls.  We uphold our mission to mentor and motivate young girls, while allowing them the comfort and ability of discussing areas of their life they may not share with their parents, other family members, or even close friends. Our vision entails the importance of understanding their long-term goals in life, and then relating their long-term goals into short-term tasks to assist and encourage the realization and fulfillment of those goals. We coach them in the importance of hygiene and safe sex, as well as the negative effects of drugs, alcohol, and bullying.  Subsequently, we offer them constructive criticism on how they can improve as an individual; and lastly, we end with a positive outlook on life that’s realistically attainable to them.  We believe that the youth is more receptive to listen when you lead with motivation, so we choose to take our time with each individual girl, and we give them a voice to elaborate on their perspectives and insight.

www.iamwondawoman.org

Grant D. Knowledge:

Grant D Knowledge, Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that believes every community has the potential to thrive when every child is given an opportunity to succeed in school and in life. Grant D Knowledge strives to address the needs of each inner city youth and the community by working closely with schools, parents, and community agencies/partners to support involvement in extra-curricular activities of each identified child while negating the obstacles associated with cost for participation in such activities that have proven to assist children with developing a comprehensive, total experience that prepares them for transition through adolescence into productive adults and citizens.

www.grantdknowledge.org

Preserve Our Legacy

Preserve Our Legacy, Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) that is focused on helping make the world around us a better, happier place by increasing awareness about stem cells and treatment options for patients in need of registered donors. With the help of our tireless staff and volunteers, we organize fundraisers, community-building events, and in-depth training sessions for our volunteers. Our mission is to educate individuals, especially those from diverse backgrounds, about the benefits of stem cells and treatment options they provide via bone marrow, cord blood and peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC). 

www.preserveourlegacy.org

Grand Street Settlement

The settlement house model came to New York when the city was at critical mass. People needed space for their dreams to grow and a place for their roots to gather.  In 1916, Grand St. Settlement opened its doors, creating a community that would transcend place and time. What began as neighbors helping neighbors became a family.   For 100 years, they have connected New Yorkers to opportunities that inspire, services that keep families strong, and programs that bring communities closer. Together, they have led bold charges for change, worked to overcome obstacles like isolation and exclusion, and fought to dismantle injustices and broken systems.

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