Tory Lanez is continuing his philanthropic efforts in the Black community. The rapper recently helped 100 Black former inmates celebrate their first Father’s Day with their families since being released.
For the special occasion, the Canadian rapper’s Dream City Fund launched “100 Black Fathers” with CNN political contributor Van Jones and his program Cut50, a bipartisan effort to cut crime and incarceration across all 50 states.
The initiative, which began in May 2020, partnered with Amazon Music, Door Dash, and the criminal justice reform organization Dream Corps to provide free meals and gifts to the dads who were recently released from prison during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dream Corps and Lanez’s Dream City Fund located 100 Black fathers that could benefit from the Father’s Day gestures of delivered meals and digital music gifts. The chosen men are part of Cut50’s Empathy Network. The group is described as a “national coalition of leaders committed to sharing their stories of involvement with the justice system and working to contribute to their communities.”
The 27-year-old took to his Instagram page on Monday, June 22, with a heartfelt letter to the Black fathers congratulating them on reuniting with their families, bashfully expressing how grateful he was to have played a role in their homecoming.
Lanez, who is a native of Canada, offered his support and empathy and explained that while he is not a United States citizen and cannot vote in U.S. elections, “I’m doing the best I can with my platform to make an impact.” He continued, “I have a record, I am not perfect, but I can contribute to the lives of the people around me, most importantly, by being a father to my son.”
“I’m looking forward to getting to know these men and their stories and will continue to find ways to help black men getting back into society feel seen, and valued, and supported,” the rapper captioned the post.
Lanez also gave a special thanks to Amazon and Door Dash for their help in providing gift cards on behalf of the fathers’ children and “contactless” dinners for the chosen families across the country.
The gesture comes on the heels of the “Temperature Rising” rapper being very vocal on his social media platforms about the racial injustices and disparities suffered by African-Americans in the U.S.
