Vocal artist Raheem DeVaughn is a true philanthropist dedicated to making a difference in the lives of others. Through his charity, The LoveLife Foundation, he has implemented various initiatives, such as a scholarship fund, support for domestic abuse survivors, AIDS prevention efforts, and an annual holiday concert that raises funds for the foundation’s toy drive, “Bring Joy with a Toy.”
As a long-time advocate for those in need, DeVaughn’s involvement in the Washington D.C. community has expanded nationally over the years, leading him to organize events and provide assistance wherever it is needed. Whether traveling for his music career or leisure, Raheem DeVaughn remains committed to his mission.
In this gracious interview, he shares with EBONY his motivation for helping others and the profound impact of the holiday toy drive on individuals.
EBONY: What is your motivation for your initiative, “Bring Joy with a Toy?”
Raheem DeVaughn: “There’s a large group of people that are forgotten about [and]families who are completely displaced for a number of reasons. [I wanted to] put a smile or lighten the load for those that are just in need or just dealing with some really serious traumatic situations during the holidays.”
What do you hope to accomplish from your annual toy drive?
“[For] some cool partnerships to come from that, you know? People have needs, people are homeless and displaced, starving in some cases, and there are food shortages in D.C. and [throughout]the country where we Black and brown people are most affected, unfortunately.
Of course, the global pandemic put a huge dent in our operation where we were doing certain things monthly, outside of the holidays, [so]the hope is to get back into the rhythm, and I know that people are dependent upon that.”
So essentially, you’d like some long-term assistance that helps you help others even more and in different ways?
“The LoveLife Foundation is a very small operation and a very small team of individuals that packs a powerful punch. We get it done. [And while] it’s a foundation, it is also a brand, so the more finances we [have]coming in and the more partnerships will give us more opportunities with the work we can do on the ground.”
What have you witnessed in the past during the holidays in your community that prompted you to step in and be of service to your neighbors during this time of year?
“Not to sound cliché, but it’s the kids. It’s to see them light up. [In] some cases, where the responsibility falls on the grandparent because the parents might be incarcerated, deceased or displaced themselves. It could be that there’s mental health involved. In some cases, it’s about restoring somebody’s sense of dignity and humanizing them again. I’ve been in situations where people have done things for me.”
Sounds like philanthropy is simply in your DNA. How do you feel that others with the means or a significant namesake should help the community more? (i.e.: finances, appearances for motivation, mentorship, etc.)?
“There are a lot of people who are positioned to help, or maybe, on the other hand, they may feel that they have to be a public figure to get it done.
I would say to them that you don’t have to be a public figure; you simply have to be a human being to care about people. I encourage people to do random acts of kindness. There are a lot of my peers out there doing the work, and you’ll never hear about it. Kudos to them. You should be doing the work if you’re in the position to. It’s what keeps the ecosystem going.”
What do you believe “Bring Joy with a Toy” does for the recipients in the long term?
“I think every child deserves to be able to be a child. Young children are forced to be in adult situations far too early. Every child deserves to be able to dream, to have fun, to have a sense of escapism, and to feel safe. I hope that’s what we provide when we do what we do.
Understand early in life that there’s something we call family, and then we have what we call extended family, and in the village, it is the extended family. There’s been an understanding that the elders in the neighborhood would look after the youth. We live in different times now, but those people still exist, and those communities still exist. It’s a gentle reminder that even in your darkest time, the world is still a beautiful place.”
To support the LoveLife Foundation, please visit: LoveLifefoundationdmv.org.
To learn more about other individuals who give back to their communities year-round, check out our ‘Amplified’ series presented by Nationwide at https://www.ebony.com/tag/black-in-business/
