In 2022, Migos‘ Quavo founded the Rocket Foundation, an organization dedicated to ending gun violence in America, in honor of the rapper’s late nephew and group member, Takeoff. Now, Quavo and the Rocket Foundation have announced a new initiative, the “SPARK Grants” program, which will award 10 grants of $10K to “high-impact organizations that are helping build an ecosystem of gun violence prevention and reduction in Atlanta.”
“I am honored to launch this grant program to honor Take and the countless families that have been affected by gun violence,” Quavo shared. “The Rocket Foundation will be giving out $100K in SPARK grants to local orgs dedicated to reducing community violence in Atlanta. There is a lot of important work going on in ATL right now, and part of our mission is to uplift these organizations and support them to help save more lives.”
Organizations can apply for grants now, with applications due on April 21st. Grant winners will be announced on June 18th to coincide with Takeoff’s birthday and National Gun Violence Awareness Month.
In 2022, Kirsnick Khari Ball, known to many as Takeoff, was shot and killed as a bystander near a violent confrontation in Houston, TX. As The Rocket Foundation’s website explains, “his family and community… committed to turning his death into a moment of reckoning and mobilization to address the gun violence crisis in U.S. cities. Founded by Quavo, The Rocket Foundation will cement Takeoff’s legacy as a lasting force for good in neighborhoods and for families impacted by gun violence.”
Last year, Quavo released his sophomore album Rocket Power dedicated to Takeoff. “This album is for the Rocket,” he shared, “our true fans, and also this is my therapy. This album is a true reflection of how I feel right now…Sometimes I’m good, sometimes I’m down, sometimes I’m disappointed, sometimes I fall apart, but then I always find my strength again.”
Learn more about The Rocket Foundation and the SPARK Grants.