(Photo Credit: Shondu Lowrance)
The West Village of Manhattan was hoppin’ with the Carma Foundation hosting their Gemini’s Give Back event at the Griffin night club and lounge last night.
Founded by Melky Jean, sister of Wyclef jean, the mission of Carma is to measurably improve the health of poor and vulnerable women and children in the Caribbean and inner cities of the United States.
Hosted by comedian Young Jack Thriller of ThisIs50.com and Centric TV’s Von Decarlo, Carma honored VH1’s Love & Hip Hop producer Mona Scott Young and former Knicks shooting guard John Starks for their philanthropic work. Starks’ John Starks Foundation provides academic scholarships to financial need based students in the New York metro area and his native Tulsa, Oklahoma. “It feels great,” Starks told The Source. “Melky does a terrific job with her Carma foundation and what she does with the people in Haiti and to be here and be honored, it’s an honor to be here and support.”
CEO of multimedia entertainment company Monami Entertainment, Mona Scott Young has received critical acclaim for her work in the entertainment business. She was the former president and co-owner of Violator Management which represented 50 Cent and Missy Elliot. Most recently, she’s gotten praise for the run of VH1’s successful Love & Hip Hop series. Of Haitian descent, Scott was happy for the Lifetime Achievement award: “I’m honored and thrilled to be here,” Mona Scott tells The Source.
“I’m amazed that these guys have chosen to honor me tonight. I know they have a great prestigious list of honorees and I’m just thrilled to be here.”
The stars were out in full force to support the event. Radio personality K Foxx, Naughty by Nature’s Vin Rock, Elizabeth Vashisht of VH1’s Tough Love, rapper Keith Murray, and Love & Hip Hop’s Stevie J and Joseline Hernandez were all there for the awards. “It feels great to be here because Mona Scott is being honored,” Stevie J told The Source.
“Along with John Starks, Melky is honoring her for an award. Me and Melky go back like old mitch match socks. So I’m happy to be here for the awards.
His Love & Hip Hop co-star and wife Joseline Hernandez shared similar sentiments in celebrating Mona Scott Young: “I never thought in a million years that I’d be surrounded by such successful people,” Hernandez told The Source. “Being around somebody like Mona, she deserves everything that she’s gotten and much more. She’s helped a lot of people.
In the wake of the devastating earthquake to Haiti in 2010, Carma was one of the first foundations formed to address the needs of Hatian people. Melky Jean’s commitment to Haiti is unyielding and exemplified in events like the Geminis Give Back Event where she dedicates her birthdays to hold fundraisers for Haiti in lieu of receiving gifts.
