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Newsletter FREEDOM OF GIVING 2002 The 2nd Annual Freedom of Giving holiday event was held December 19 at the headquarters of BP America, Inc. The gift giveaway and empowerment gathering was sponsored by BP and presented by Players Govern Players Communications (PGP) and The Stay Strong Foundation, our national non-profit that supports, educates and inspires youth. Renowned boxing promoter Butch Lewis hosted the event, with Def Jam South multi-platinum artist Ludacris and raptress-singer-songwriter The Madam acting as Santa’s Helpers. Terrie and Xavier Artis, CEO of PGP and co-founder of the Foundation, co-hosted the holiday celebration. Noted attorney Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. (aka Freedom) inaugurated the first Freedom of Giving event in 2001 on the stage of the world-famous Apollo Theater in Harlem. This year, Johnnie passed the Freedom of Giving spirit to Butch Lewis as the event traveled to midtown Manhattan and transformed BP offices into the North Pole for New York City young people. Said Artis, “Knowledge is expertise and power is choice. That’s what the Freedom of Giving is all about. The freedom of choice that stems from one having the ability to choose his or her path or destiny based on their know-how, knowledge or expertise. This is the message we want to give to our kids.” Added Lewis, “This is a wonderful event for the young people. The Freedom of Giving is about making a choice. And the sharing of that freedom gives our youth a choice. In essence, it’s a gift to the present generation. I’m proud to join The Stay Strong Foundation and Players Govern Players and share in the light of giving for our kids.” Said Jennifer Ruys, Director, External Affairs at BP America, “The Freedom of Giving is another example of how we at BP are going ‘beyond petroleum’ with our customers and community. We’re proud to be working with The Stay Strong Foundation, and we look forward to continuing to work with them in 2003.” The holiday event included lively, motivational talks by Artis, Lewis, Williams, Ludacris, and The Madam, who also performed Believe, the title track from her debut CD. Santa (Burgess Harrison, VP, Marketing of PGP) handed out gifts, including backpacks, t-shirts, cosmetics and CDs, to the young people. Gift sponsors for the 2002 Freedom of Giving event included: Girbaud fashions; Pelle Pelle Fashions; Berhman Communications; HealthFirst; Morgan State University; Rainbow/PUSH; FUBU; and The Ludacris Foundation. Ludacris—the entertainer, entrepreneur and youth advocate—is the founder of The Ludacris Foundation, which provides grants and scholarships to organizations that help young people achieve their dreams. Let's Talk! | Press Room | Contact Us Privacy Statement |