Black Celebrity Men

One thing I've learned about Usher is that no matter what is going on his private/personal life, he makes and takes the time to continue to help those in need. And these days it seems like Usher spends most of his time giving back to his community and other various charities, than singing and performing; much like his idol/role model Michael Jackson. I once heard Usher say that one of the reasons why he's such a big Michael Jackson fan is because of the philanthropic work Michael has bestowed upon others...in life and death. And that's a good look. So maybe it's a good thing that his new album Raymond vs. Raymond was pushed back to a later date. It gives Usher more time to give back through his charity, Usher’s New Look which he started back in 1999. According to its official website, Usher designed the foundation to reach talented youth from diverse socio-economic backgrounds and provide them with a chance to learn firsthand about the business side of the sports and entertainment industries.

This Sunday, (December 6, 2009 at 8:00 p.m., EST), Usher will be featured on ABC's EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION where he travels back to his home state of Tennessee to give Trina Scott, a widow, and her three daughters the good news that their problem-ridden home will be rebuilt in just seven days.

Trina, 44, met her husband Dave while he was serving with U.S. Army Special Forces in Fort Bragg – and it was love at first sight. After his discharge, Dave became a Clarksville police officer. In 2002, he and his partner were on duty when their police car was violently struck by a truck. The car spun out of control, hit a guardrail, caught fire and killed both Dave and his partner almost instantly. Overwhelmed with grief, Trina turned to a group called Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. (C.O.P.S.), which helps the surviving family members of officers killed in the line of duty. Inspired by the help she received from C.O.P.S., Trina devoted all of her free time to the organization and became its President in 2003. The time that Trina dedicates to C.O.P.S. represents essentially a full-time job, and that’s on top of the full time job she works to support her three daughters -- Leyla, 17, Deidie, 13, and Alethea, 11. Trina has spent more than $20,000 on the mounting repairs to her small home, but the structural problems caused by termites and water damage remain.

SEE MORE PHOTOS OF USHER DISPLAYING HIS HANDY MAN SKILLS WHEN YOU CLICK THE LINK BELOW!




As you can tell by the pictures above, not only did Usher lend a hand in the construction of the Scott's brand new home, he also recognized and supported the family’s dedication of giving back to their community by giving the Scott family $25,000, courtesy of his non-profit foundation, Usher’s New Look, so that they can continue their legacy of service and give back to the community in an even bigger way. The work of the Foundation now expands to Tennessee where the Scott daughters and their peers at C.O.P.S. will use the funds provided by Usher’s New Look to give out small grants of $500.00 to other youth to start community service and social entrepreneurship projects.

In addition to youth in Tennessee and most importantly, young people ages 12 through 20 around the country are eligible to apply for a $500 Powered By Service grant by logging onto PoweredbyService.org or UshersNewLook.org. Grants will be awarded to exceptional service ideas so that youth are not only called to serve, but have the tools they need to create real change.