Mariah involved in The Refugee Project

Subj:    Lauryn Hill Of The Fugees Kicks Off The Refugee Project
Date:    97-10-23 22:29:47 EDT
From:    AOL News

    NEW YORK--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Oct. 23, 1997--Lauryn Hill 
will launch her non-profit organization, The Refugee Project, at a 
benefit cocktail party in New York City on Tuesday, November 4, 1997.
The gala will be held at The Museum For African Art (593 Broadway, 
between Prince and Houston, Soho) at 7pm.  At the event, Lauryn will 
introduce the Board of Trustees which includes: Busta Rhymes, Mariah
Carey, Sean "Puffy" Combs, D'Angelo, Kirk Franklin, Bethanne 
Hardison, Spike Lee, Susan Taylor, Cornell West, Wyclef Jean, and 
Malik Yoba, among others.  There will be a silent auction and raffle 
to help raise money for the Project.  Money raised from the benefit 
will go towards further developing the Refugee Project's programs.
          The Refugee Project was founded in 1996 by Lauryn Hill.  The 
project hopes to create a powerful and supportive network throughout 
the African Diaspora that will give young people the experience and 
encouragement that is too often missing from their lives.  The 
Refugee Project's programs will lend a hand where one is needed, 
provide an opportunity where one is missing, and inspire a young mind
which is fighting to survive.  The Refugee Project is dedicated to 
linking minority communities throughout the world by instilling a 
sense of entitlement and responsibility to the young people of these 
communities.
          To date, The Refugee Project has organized free outdoor concerts in
New York and Haiti.  These efforts have raised money for the refugees of Haiti
and a summer camp in New York/New Jersey area, as well as been responsible for
registering thousands of voters.  In the future, the Project's goals are to
establish a community center which will provide music, dance, G.E.D., training,
nutritional programs, tutoring, mentoring programs, afterschool programs,
skill-building workshops, college application assistance, and counseling.