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Drake Announces Second Annual Houston Appreciation Weekend

blame it on Meka May 14, 2015
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Last year, Drake unofficially kicked off Space City’s summer by throwing his inaugural Houston Appreciation Weekend. The series of events, which celebrated the spirit and culture of what many consider to be Drake’s second home. Next weekend (Memorial Day Weekend 2015) he will be returning to H-Town for the second installment, which promises to be bigger and better than its predecessor.

Via press release below:

(Houston, TX) – Drake returns to Houston Memorial Day Weekend to host his signature Houston Appreciation Weekend (HAW). HAW is a weekend of charity driven events hosted by the Grammy Award Winning artist. These events celebrate and honor his second home by assisting Houston ​non-profit organizations carry out their philanthropic missions within the community. The centerpiece of this year’s charitable experience is a celebrity softball game, open to the public, benefiting the Houston Astros’ Urban Youth Academy. Presented by his O.V.O imprint, the HAW Celebrity Softball game will take place Friday, May 22nd, at the University of Houston’s Cougar Field, gates open at 5:30PM.

Founded as a tribute to the city where he felt his career began, HAW serves as a vehicle for Drake to raise both awareness and money for multiple charities based in Greater Houston. Last year’s inaugural event benefitted several local organizations handpicked by Drake including the Houston Food Bank, Interfaith Ministries, Keep Houston Beautiful, and the T.J. Ford Foundation. “Drake has a deep passion for working with underprivileged, handicapped, and terminally ill youth,” explains HAW event coordinator DeRonica Horn, CEO of Last eMpressions Event Design. “He has a long history of not only using his star power to benefit various organizations, but also dedicating his personal time and money to the benefit of children internationally,” Horn continues. Most recently the philanthropist partnered with Strawberry Mansion High School in Philadelphia to help rebuild their music department by donating a state of the art recording studio to the students.

As with last year’s charity celebrity basketball game, that featured participation by Houston Rockets’ star James Harden, hip hop artist Kirko Bangz, and Dallas Cowboys star wide receiver Dez Bryant, attendees can expect an array of surprise celebrity appearances. To purchase tickets to attend the game visit EntertainHouston.com.

Attendees can expect the Drake staples to hit Houston as well: a pop-up shop to buy OVO wares and paraphernalia, a star-studded concert featuring a plethora of special guests, and much more.