Rapper/Songwriter/Producer & Actor TI will join Will Smith’s long time aide and confidante Charles “Charlie Mack” Alston, film producer/promoter/recording artist manager/entertainment insider and producer of the 7th Annual Charlie Mack Celebrity Weekend, a series of star-studded charity events from July 23 -25, 2010 in Philadelphia, PA.
Appropriately titled the “Charlie Mack Party 4 Peace Celebrity Weekend,” portions of the proceeds raised during the weekend will benefit Mothers in Charge, a Philadelphia-based victims’ advocate group that supports women who’ve lost loved ones due to violent crimes and Charlie Cares, a place of refuge for children.
Producer/promoter Charlie Mack, TI, critically acclaimed actor Ving Rhames and actress LisaRaye will lead many of Tinsel Towne’s celebrities around the city of Philadelphia to raise awareness about the on-going crime spree and heightened violence. The event will overflow with many of the entertainment industries notables, such as actor Terry Crews of the TBS sitcom, “Are We There Yet?” and his wife Rebecca Crews of BET’s reality show, “The Family Crews”; comedian/actor Kevin Hart of the film, “Not Easily Broken”; actress Essence Atkins, of the new TBS sitcom, “Are We There Yet?”; comedian/actor Faison Love of the block buster hit, “Couples Retreat”; actress K.D. Aubert, who co-starred in “Surfer Dude” and “Still Waiting”; Bravo reality star Sheree Whitfield of the “Real Atlanta Housewives”; Comedians G-Thang and Alex Thomas; NBA standouts: Lou Williams and Mareese Speights of the Philadelphia 76ers and Rasul Butler of the Los Angeles Clippers along with hip hop legends Doug E. Fresh and Heavy D. just to name a few.
Started in 1990 solely as a celebrity basketball game, The Charlie Mack Party 4 Peace Celebrity Weekend has evolved into a charitable benefit to raise awareness and money for organizations that seek to eradicate violence. “As a native Philadelphian, I wanted to provide young people with a vehicle to interact with today’s entertainment industry actors/actresses and professional sports players, however, it was after the loss of my two brothers that I saw an even greater need to create a fundraising benefit to assist anti-violence organizations,” Mack says.
Charlie Mack is considered by many in the entertainment and music industry as a seasoned insider with ties to many of today’s leading actors/actresses and musical greats. Besides being friends to the stars and sporting professionals, Mack co-produced the block buster hit, “Atl,” starring Rapper T.I, currently manages hip hop artist Meek Mills and produced the soon to be released film, “Streets.”
Since the inception of Party 4 Peace, homicide rates in the city of Philadelphia dropped by 10% each month after Celebrity Weekend, “which sends a message celebrities can make a difference,” adds Mack.
In 2006, Academy nominee and mega-star Will Smith joined his long time friend and confidante during the weekend and was clearly stunned by the crime plaguing the City of Philadelphia. “It is hard for me to get a grip on what is happening in the streets of Philadelphia, the same streets that I grew up in and walk through, however, I do understand there is a different mind set today then when I was raised so I feel compelled to do something and join my friend, Charlie Mack in curtailing the violence,” Smith said.
Over 40 of the entertainment and sports industries leaders will take part in Charlie Mack’s weekend, which will kick-off on Friday, July 23, 2010 with the celebrities visiting two of Philadelphia’s correctional facilities and addressing the inmates at Philadelphia Industrial Correction Center, Riverside Women’s Facility and then heading to Atlantic City, NJ for a Music Festival, featuring Heavy D, Doug E Fresh, Bel Biv Devoe, Naughty by Nature & MC Lyte at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, NJ @ 8:00 pm. Festivities will continue on Saturday, July 24th and include Youth Day @ PECO’s Love for The Kid’s Luncheon featuring TI, Crews’ and LisaRaye, Good Will Tour at the Philadelphia Youth Study Center and the Celebrity Gala. The weekend culminates on Sunday, July 25th with the Keystone Mercy’s Healthy Hoops, the 13th Annual Charlie Mack Celebrity Basketball Game, St.Joseph’s University Hagan Arena & Laff 4 Peace Comedy Show at the Laff House, featuring comedians Alex Thomas and G-Thang and special appearance by Kevin Hart.
The Charlie Mack Party 4 Peace Celebrity Weekend is sponsored in part by Will & Jada Pinkett Smith Foundation, Keystone Mercy Health Plan, PECO, Laborers’ District Council of the Metropolitan Area of Philadelphia and Vicinity, Universal Companies, Beneficial, Philadelphia Multicultural Affairs Congress, Clear Channel Stations, Radio One, WURD, Philadelphia Tribune and Royale Sporting Goods.
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