Essence Festival announces celebrity charity basketball game with Master P

Time Inc.’s Essence Festival presented by Coca-Cola will partner with Team Hope NOLA, a foundation started by hip hop mogul Master P benefiting New Orleans youth through basketball and community driven events, by hosting a one-of-a-kind celebrity basketball game as part of the previously announced “Day of Service” activation. Players will include celebrities Ray J, Trey Songz, Romeo Miller, Mystikal, and Curren$y, along with former NBA players Chris Jackson, Robert Pack, Caron Butler, Ben Gordon and more.

“We are thrilled to be expanding our Day of Service partnership with Master P and Team Hope Nola with the Festival’s first-ever charity basketball game,” says Joy Profet, General Manager of Essence. “Master P and Team Hope Nola have enlisted an incredible star-studded lineup who are eager to use their platform in effort to raise funds that will continually support New Orleans students with the necessary tools to enable future success.”

The charity basketball game will take place on June 29th at 4 pm at the Xavier University of Louisiana Convocation Center in New Orleans, LA. Tickets will be open to the public and priced at $25 for General Admission and $100 for courtside seats. Funds raised from tickets sales will benefit the previously announced scholarship fund developed by Essence and Team Hope NOLA to benefit New Orleans youth.

“I reached out to some of my colleagues and friends and told them what we are doing to help raise money for the children in New Orleans and the response has been overwhelming,” states Percy “Master P” Miller. “It is extremely important to be able to help the young people from my hometown – these children are challenged with so much. This is just my way of giving back and we can have some family fun doing it,” continued Miller.