ATLANTA — Atlanta rap legend, community leader, business owner, and philanthropist 2 Chainz and his Tru foundation are gearing up for their seventh annual Toy Drive and Lunch Bag project on Saturday, where volunteers will pack lunches for local shelters and collect toys for the kids at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Hughes-Spalding.
2 Chainz alongside his wife, Kesha Ward Epps and Tru Foundation, have partnered with Walmart, Emerging 100, and Black Men in Tech, and the College Park Skyhawks for the holiday event.
Tru Foundation Executive Director Taylor Edwards said she is happy to be a part of the movement to spread holiday cheer to the community.
“It gathers all of our corporate and community partners to make a difference for kids at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Hughes-Spalding ,” Edwards said. “We really love that hospital and have a longstanding history with the hospital and donate all of the toys there. Our corporate and community partners sign up to volunteer and everybody comes in to assemble sack lunches for the local shelters and we write love notes. During that, it is an on-call to the community to drop off toys.”
Attendees will also be able to enjoy festive music, doughnuts and beverages.
“This is more than an event; it’s a movement to give back and unite the community,” organizers said. This hands-on experience brings the holiday spirit to life, giving volunteers a chance to impact their community in a big way while sharing joy through the power of toys!”
Every child who is admitted will receive a toy upon arrival. Edwards said giving back to others is special.
“2 Chainz and I are both from College Park and care about the community. It is special every time we give back to the community,” Edwards said. “Our foundation motto is to stay tru. Staying true to your community, seeing things deeper than yourself and when you can’t donate finances, donate your time. Always try to pay it forward and be kind to people on purpose. All of our work is special to us.”
The event will be held at Russell Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurs at 504 Fair St. in Atlanta from 9 a.m. – Noon.
2 Chainz, whose real name is Tauheed Epps, first burst on to the music scene in the early 2000′s with fellow Atlanta rap legend Ludacris and his group DTP before venturing out as a solo artist.
He is best known for many ground-breaking hits such as “When We Were Kids” with Ludacris and DTP, “Duffle Bag Boy” with hip-hop icon Lil Wayne and Dolla Boi of Playaz Circle, “Pressure” with Lil Wayne, “Oprah and Gayle” with Lil Wayne, “We Got” with Ludacris, Chingy and Lil Fate, “Birthday Song” with Kanye West, “Big Dawg” with Lil Wayne, “Spend It Remix” with T.I., “No Lie” featuring Drake, “Bands A Make Her Dance” with Lil Wayne and Juicy J, “RIP” with Jeezy, “Bounce” with Lil Wayne, “Fork” and more.
In 2023, 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne released the follow-up to their 2016 hit collaboration album called “Welcome 2 Collegrove.”