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50 Cent works to feed families nationwide.

50 Cent also known as Curtis James Jackson III was born and raised in Queens, NY and quickly rose to fame in 2003 with his album Get Rich or Die Tryin’ which went platinum 8 times. He didn’t stop there, 50 Cent released The Massacre (2005), Curtis (2007), Before I Self Destruct (2009) and his most recent Street Kind Immortals is set to be released in January. 50 Cent was ranked 6^th best artist of the 2000s and 4^th best male artist by Billboard magazine. 50 Cent is not only a rapper but also an entrepreneur and an actor. He has appeared on The Simpsons and in his semi-autobiographical film Get Rich or Die Tryin’.

Feeding America is the leading domestic hunger relief charity in the United States that supplies food to more than 37 million Americans each year including 14 million children and 3 million seniors. They provide low income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and thrive. They work with a nationwide network of member food banks and tirelessly work to end hunger and engage Americans in the fight to end hunger.

Interviewed by: Giacinta Pace

Introduction by: Meg Zrini

Q: How did you get involved and what inspires you about it?

50 Cent: With Feeding America. Initially, I was doing a street clean project and I ended up partnering with The United Nations World Food Programme to provide meals. I was trying to target famine in Africa and United Nations made a great collaboration at that point. I realized you don’t go fixing the hole in someone else’s roof before you fix the hole in your house so I double backed around to Feeding America, the largest domestic hunger relief charity. Having two hundred food banks and providing the food bank of New York. It’s exciting to be associated with it. I’m an ambassador for the entertainment counsel, me, Rachael Ray, a few other people but Rachael Ray is one of my favorites so I’ll mention Rachael Ray. It was an exciting collaboration. I chose hunger as my charitable philanthropic portion of my career. I want to make a difference there. Considering within America, 1 in 6 Americans are hungry. Kids [are] going to school relying on school lunch to function and more than 1 in 5 kids are experiencing that. I wanted to do something that was continuous instead of a one time offering. With SMS Audio, I set it up with Feeding America, where we provide 250 meals with every headset that’s sold with SMSAudio.com

Q: What does this event mean to you today?

50 Cent: It means a little more to me considering it’s New York based. I’m New Yorker to the core. I’m from Queens. We wear these Yankee hats almost religiously as representation of where we’re from.

Q: Have you had any memorable moments?

50 Cent:  Every time it’s exciting. I went to the City Harvest and worked there. It’s interesting to see how many different programs [they have] in one place to provide things to not be wasteful and actually have it end up somewhere where it’s effective.

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50 Cent helps to serve Thanksgiving dinner for families with Feeding America and The Food Bank For New York City.

Q: Anything else you would like to add?

50 Cent: Just that I’m enjoying myself. They’re probably excited that I’m here but I think I’m a little more excited than they are.