TAG Records awards first grants
NEW YORK TAG Records, the music label recently formed by Procter & Gamble’s TAG brand and Island Def Jam, recently joined forces with the Hip Hop Summit Action Network to name five recipients of the first-ever TAG Make History National Grants Program.
“The TAG Records mission is dedicated to mentoring and propelling urban youth through hip hop,” stated Adam Weber, brand manager for P&G. “The goal of TAG’s Make History National Grants Program is to recognize the extraordinary strides being taken by select urban students, and we’re very proud to partner with HSAN and NAFEO to provide them with tools to broaden their remarkable contributions.”
With the help of the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education and a panel of celebrity judges included hip-hop stars Jermaine Dupri, Russell Simmons, Ne-Yo, MC Lyte and Chili, TAG Records honored individuals at the Oct. 17 who have made heir mark.
The winners included:• Blair Alexander Jr. of Morehouse College in Atlanta, Ga. He was recognize for research in microbiology pertaining to why humans have become resistant to antibiotics and how to reverse this trend.
• Paul Dickens of Howard University in Washington D.C. The first-year medical student has created health and environmental youth-oriente programming using original hip-hop DVDs to encourage youth to maintain healthy lives.
• Chevonne James of Bowie State University in Bowie, Md. She was recognized for the creation and operation of the “Pick A Meal” pilot program that enables less fortunate people to receive gift cards or meal vouchers.
Jamel Vanderburg of Wilberforce University in Wilberforce, Ohio. Vanderburg is the 21-year-old founder and chief executive officer of start-up marketing and accounting firm A&M Financial Services. The firm assists college students who want to start their own businesses.
• Kiera Thomas of Kentucky State University in Frankfort, Ky. Thomas is an award-winning singer and songwriter. She was recognized for her development and funding of the Kentucky State Show Choir.
