Ludacris Gives Away 20 Cars To Struggling Contest Winners

MORROW, Ga. — Talk about a one-man stimulus package: Grammy-winning rapper Ludacris has given away 20 cars to people who wrote about their struggles to keep their jobs for a lack of wheels of their own.

Ludacris said he was taken aback after reading thousands of essays by people struggling or unable to buy cars needed to get to and from work or find jobs. The 31-year-old rapper felt he could step in and move them ahead, partnering with a suburban Atlanta dealership for Sunday's giveaway.

"People are getting laid off, and now are looking for jobs," Ludacris said. "To be efficient, you need some transportation of your own to get there. That's why I wanted to give back to those who need it."

Each of the used vehicles included free gas for 30 days. Winning contestants were responsible for tags, registration, tax and insurance. About 4,000 contestants submitted a 300-word essay to the rapper's foundation, explaining why they deserved a car.

One of the most touching stories Ludacris read was by Mading Duor.

Duor described how he moved to the United States six years ago after his mother, father, and five brothers and sisters were killed in Sudan. The man also wrote that a son was killed by a drunken driver in Atlanta a few years back.

"His story touched my heart," Ludacris said. "He's endured so much in his life and he's still here standing. I'm very proud to have helped him."

Duor, 33, has been able to keep a steady job at a school, but each day he felt stressed about how he was going to get to work. No longer.

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"I'm so happy, that I'm nervous," said Duor, who won a Nissan Maxima. "When I look at my new car, I say to myself, 'Is this really happening?'"

Crystal Beauford, a single mother who used to ride the bus to two jobs and school, now has a Saturn Ion. The 26-year-old college student doesn't know how to drive the stick-shift vehicle, but said she'll learn.

"This is going to help me out so much," Beauford said. "It's a blessing."

Ludacris won Grammys for Best Rap Album for "Release Therapy" and Best Rap Song for "Money Maker."

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On the Net:

http://www.theludacrisfoundation.org/

Comments

[MrBlu]

This is the kind of thing I'd wish more celebrities or people with righteous amounts of cash would do. A little A.R.K. (acts of random kindness). I think it would've been cool if he would've taken care of the tax & tags too but still, that was awesome.

[Bobotheclown]

Why not buy them new cars?

[goodtomeetyou]

That was extremely generous. Thank you Ludacris for your positive impact.

[scarletxoxoxo]

That is a very nice thing to do:)

[JKPHILLY]

I wish that folks could do something nice without there having to be a motive....who cares if Ludacris and Jay Z did these promotional events around their albums....PR is expensive these days and if they can call attention to something that they are doing....so be it! I do not see very many celebrities using their money for worthwhile causes ie: Sandra Bullock and her generous Katrina aid.
Let the man be and celebrate that these people are being helped. We need to stop focusing on the who/ what/ when / and where and just focus on the good deed.

[sueno]

Blessings to you, Luda!

[imjustawitchywoman]

I have always been a fan of the man and his music.

God Bless his compassion for his fellow man/woman.

I always hear the far right criticizing the Ludacris', Sean Penns, Georgo Clooneys......but they give back. They give their time to worthy causes.....they donate money to the less fortunate.

What do the CEO's of Big Pharma and Big Oil give back? But you know....they are the Rethugs heroes

[Wagithae Mwangi]

very nice.see my blog www.habarikenyans.blogspot.com

[StillMadMatt]

No fan myself of the Man, But I am starting to be:)

[vgirl1]

There has been so much hate written here and on AOL's site about this story. Some of the comments written on AOL were even filled with racial hatred.

Why are so many people in this country so full of racially based hate? They are so hateful that they try to turn a good thing into a bad one.

However, not to worry. America's stamina and purpose is better and stronger than any of these haters. Besides, hate eats only at the hater. It the hater's life that hate destroys.

I applaud amyone with means who finds it in their heart to share with others.

[heather65]

i read those too.
one commenter in particular, "both parties bite", seems very bitter.
anyone who criticizes this act of charity has either never performed an act of charity or view an act of charity with skewed vision.

[Da-king]

Props to Ludacris for doing something to help out his community. some good news for a change.

[voltage356]

Oprah should be calling you next week Luda to come on her show, since she is starting to hangout with rappers now. Nice job Luda!

[ZimboChick]

Luda!!!! Continue to be blessed! I want to eat at your restaurant soon!

[UppityNegress]

It's his movie's opening weekend. And like Jay-Z, this week, Jay-Z is tieing in a free concert in NYC to his new album release as well. These people pick gestures of media-worthy generosity in a 7-day span of a new product release. Someone is stroking them to do these media-inducing stunts and frame them as generosity for cred and marketing. People fall for it because it is simplistically a kind gesture. So scrutinity escapes the obvious timing of their motives. They have the entire rest of the year to do these things as well but peculiarly they tend to do acts of charity around product release dates.

[Betsie]

Agree.....BUT

Everyone that sells a product needs to advertise and if you can get FREE advertising all the better.

Anyone who does a good positive thing for others should NEVER be condemned or criticized, especially for something so silly as the timing of their good deed.

[Lurker50]

So....

[lionzion]

You have no idea what you talking about "uppity one". Luda has a charity foundation that he runs even before he was making movies. But what does it matter if he is giving and wanting publicity. He still made those car winners life a liitle better. What have you done lately?

[mrirontrain]

We should be less concerned with the WHY and instead applaud the HOW. 20 People just had their lives get a little bit better. Imagine if everyone did a little something for someone else once a day.

[SharonaMonk]

They'll all be accused of doing it to pat themselves on the back and pretend as if they are really a good person - when they really aren't. Or something.

[sweetwilly]

i don't know much about ludacris, but i've loved him in all the movies/tv shows i've seen him in (crash, hustle & flow, L&O SVU). nice to know his true personality is as kind as i imagined him to be.