Ludacris and The Ludacris Foundation to be Honored for Helping Runaways

Rapper Ludacris and his youth outreach organization, The Ludacris Foundation, will be honored by the National Runaway Switchboard with their “Spirit of Youth” Award. The award is being given in recognition for Luda and the Foundation’s work and dedication helping America’s youth. On the rapper’s Grammy Award winning album Release Therapy, the song “Runaway Love” addresses several different situations that often result in children leaving home. The release of the song in late 2006, prompted the NRS to enter into a partnership with The Ludacris Foundation. "The timing could not have been better with November's National Runaway Prevention Month," said Maureen Blaha, NRS executive director. "Since the release of “Runaway Love” Ludacris' and The Foundation's commitment to helping runaway youth and letting people know about the help they can receive by calling 1-800-RUNAWAY has only increased." According to the NRS, calls to their runaway assistance hotline have increased 17% and visits to their website have nearly doubled in the last year. The hotline provides crisis intervention, referrals to local resources, and education and prevention services to youth, families and community members 24 hours a day. Luda and Foundation president Roberta Shields will be presented with the “Spirit of Youth” award on November 1 in Chicago.