50 Cent has proven time after time that he genuinely cares about those in need. From his SK Energy and SMS Audio initiatives to help feed the hungry, to visiting his old Queens neighborhood to promote fitness and healthy living to the youth, paying for the funeral procession earlier this year of 14-year-old D’aja Robinson, who was killed by a bullet as she rode the bus, his free "40 Day" concert in Queens, September 2009, teaming with Bette Middler in 2008 to open the Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson Community Garden in Queens and much more.
50 Cent and Bette Midler
"I called and nagged him," Midler told People at the time. "His G-Unity Foundation gives a million dollars away every year in grants to non profits all over the city ... They're just brilliant."
Forever Young Day: 50 Cent In Queens, New York, June 2010, promoting fitness and healthy eating
The G-Unit Mogul has now found another way to give back through "Dream School," a new show on the Sundance Channel he executive produces along with Jamie Oliver.
The show focuses on helping youth dealing with poverty, violence, dropping out of school and other issues
50 has become an advocate for Alan, a transgender boy who was born a girl.
Alan
"My names Alan, but I was born Alyssa. I'm transgender. I had long black hair and actually wore makeup every day. I thought that's what I was supposed to do," Alan says. "I started realizing that I felt different when I was in middle school, when I was hitting puberty. I would bind my chest down and try to pass as a boy. That was because I felt like a guy and I wanted people to see me as a guy. I got good grades. I was on honor roll. And once the bullying started that all stopped. I didn't want to go to school. I can't remember the last time I went to school. I honestly can't say that feel safe in school."
Alyssa before he became known as Alan.
Through some of the lyrics in his songs, 50 Cent, developed the reputation as someone who didn't like gay people, but he says that couldn't be further from the truth.
“I don’t have homophobia. I never did,” he told The Wrap. “When you actually make music that mirrors the environment, you use the terminology. You use the language. Like if you were making a painting, and you were painting the American flag, if I told you to do that, and not use red, not use the harsh terms or the tougher messages, you would never successfully paint the flag.”
“I would use the terminology that would be going around. My grandfather may say terms — people may actually say terms based on their experiences that were happening at that point. … You’ve got people that would call some people a redneck, or some people n—-. It’s the term of that time or that period. They’re not necessarily racist, but they’ve heard those terms used around them, and they use them," 50 adds.
"Dream School" will have celebrity teachers like Soledad O’Brien, Suze Orman, Oliver Stone, Swizz Beatz, Jeff Corwin, David Arquette, Jesse Jackson and more.
The show premieres Monday October 7th at 10/9c.
For more information about the program and see videos visit the Sundance Channel's website.
Sources: The Wrap, People, Sundance and New York Daily News.
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